Respiratory Therapist Salary in Columbus, OH
Respiratory Therapists in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $81,860 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,950 take-home, or $5,412 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$9,179
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,075
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,187
- Ohio income tax$1,469
- Take-home pay$64,950
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,300 | $32.84 | $55,783 | $4,649 |
| 25th percentile | $79,670 | $38.30 | $63,469 | $5,289 |
| Median (50th) | $81,860 | $39.36 | $64,950 | $5,412 |
| 75th percentile | $96,070 | $46.19 | $74,556 | $6,213 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,700 | $47.45 | $76,334 | $6,361 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,860 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $64,950 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,032 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, OH has 1.2× 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
Columbus, OH ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $81,860 | $64,950 | $68,032 |
*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
- Cincinnati, OH — $81,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Columbus, OH?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $81,860 a year, or about $39.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,670 and $96,070.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $81,860 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $64,950 a year ($5,412 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,469 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,032 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #20 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Nurse Anesthetist — $231,810
- Physicians, All Other — $214,760
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $179,810
- Dentists, General — $166,180
- Physician Assistant — $137,550
- Pharmacist — $133,960
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,580
- Veterinarian — $123,270
- Physical Therapist — $105,130
- Occupational Therapist — $98,920
- Dental Hygienist — $96,880
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $96,460