Respiratory Therapist Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Respiratory Therapists in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $81,600 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,774 take-home, or $5,398 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,122
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,059
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,183
- Ohio income tax$1,462
- Take-home pay$64,774
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,160 | $31.81 | $54,303 | $4,525 |
| 25th percentile | $76,920 | $36.98 | $61,610 | $5,134 |
| Median (50th) | $81,600 | $39.23 | $64,774 | $5,398 |
| 75th percentile | $94,790 | $45.57 | $73,690 | $6,141 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,020 | $47.61 | $76,550 | $6,379 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,600 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $64,774 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,919 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cincinnati, OH has 1.3× the national concentration of respiratory therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #22 of 61 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $149,680 | $101,936 | $92,314 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $134,430 | $93,129 | $87,306 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,220 | $90,698 | $78,449 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $104,220 | $82,149 | $73,919 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $110,490 | $81,081 | $72,032 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $95,520 | $71,694 | $71,652 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $104,580 | $77,393 | $71,484 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,920 | $74,488 | $71,061 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $81,600 | $64,774 | $67,919 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 61 metros →
Respiratory Therapist salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Dayton, OH — $81,420
- Cleveland, OH — $80,360
- Columbus, OH — $81,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $81,600 a year, or about $39.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,920 and $94,790.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $81,600 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $64,774 a year ($5,398 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,462 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,919 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #22 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $221,170
- Pharmacist — $140,200
- Nurse Practitioner — $128,700
- Physician Assistant — $128,520
- Veterinarian — $127,670
- Dental Hygienist — $102,940
- Physical Therapist — $102,890
- Occupational Therapist — $100,870
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $95,930
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist — $93,600
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $84,950