Respiratory Therapist Salary in Denver, CO
Respiratory Therapists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $85,870 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,170 take-home, or $5,514 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,061
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,324
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,245
- Colorado income tax$3,070
- Take-home pay$66,170
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,230 | $31.36 | $52,431 | $4,369 |
| 25th percentile | $79,090 | $38.02 | $61,698 | $5,142 |
| Median (50th) | $85,870 | $41.28 | $66,170 | $5,514 |
| 75th percentile | $100,130 | $48.14 | $75,574 | $6,298 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,070 | $52.92 | $82,130 | $6,844 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,870 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $66,170 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,553 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Respiratory Therapist jobs are less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #50 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 |
| 50 | Denver, CO | $85,870 | $66,170 | $62,553 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 61 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Denver, CO?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $85,870 a year, or about $41.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,090 and $100,130.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $85,870 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $66,170 a year ($5,514 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,070 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,553 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #50 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $168,620
- Optometrist — $158,130
- Pharmacist — $157,890
- Veterinarian — $135,090
- Physician Assistant — $134,540
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,040
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Occupational Therapist — $107,500