Respiratory Therapist Salary in Houston, TX
Respiratory Therapists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $80,450 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,427 take-home, or $5,452 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,869
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,988
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,167
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$65,427
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,180 | $27.49 | $48,124 | $4,010 |
| 25th percentile | $66,910 | $32.17 | $55,901 | $4,658 |
| Median (50th) | $80,450 | $38.68 | $65,427 | $5,452 |
| 75th percentile | $96,820 | $46.55 | $76,943 | $6,412 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,690 | $47.93 | $78,962 | $6,580 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,450 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $65,427 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,336 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX 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
Houston, TX ranks #5 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $110,490 | $81,081 | $72,032 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $95,520 | $71,694 | $71,652 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,790 | $68,568 | $66,860 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,640 | $75,582 | $66,553 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $80,450 | $65,427 | $66,336 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $84,080 | $67,980 | $65,943 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $87,060 | $65,912 | $63,625 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,760 | $63,156 | $61,129 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: respiratory therapists
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Respiratory Therapist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $84,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Houston, TX?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $80,450 a year, or about $38.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,910 and $96,820.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $80,450 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $65,427 a year ($5,452 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,336 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #5 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
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- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
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- Occupational Therapist — $103,580
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,400
- Registered Nurse — $99,830
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- Surgical Technologist — $71,050
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