Respiratory Therapist Salary in Memphis, TN
Respiratory Therapists in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $66,460 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,581 take-home, or $4,632 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,795
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,121
- Medicare (1.45%)$964
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$55,581
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,430 | $27.13 | $47,522 | $3,960 |
| 25th percentile | $65,040 | $31.27 | $54,440 | $4,537 |
| Median (50th) | $66,460 | $31.95 | $55,581 | $4,632 |
| 75th percentile | $78,640 | $37.81 | $64,153 | $5,346 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,060 | $42.34 | $70,780 | $5,898 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,460 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $55,581 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,296 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Memphis, TN 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
Memphis, TN ranks #57 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 |
| 57 | Memphis, TN | $66,460 | $55,581 | $60,296 |
*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 Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $78,700
- Knoxville, TN — $64,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Memphis, TN?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $66,460 a year, or about $31.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,040 and $78,640.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $66,460 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $55,581 a year ($4,632 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,296 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #57 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $134,220
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,600
- Physical Therapist — $100,000
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $86,120
- Registered Nurse — $81,500
- Dental Hygienist — $78,580
- Paramedic — $66,830
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $66,320
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $64,000
- Surgical Technologist — $61,150
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,140