Respiratory Therapist Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Respiratory Therapists in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $79,760 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,156 take-home, or $5,263 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,717
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,945
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,157
- Arizona income tax$1,785
- Take-home pay$63,156
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,740 | $31.13 | $52,789 | $4,399 |
| 25th percentile | $69,680 | $33.50 | $56,317 | $4,693 |
| Median (50th) | $79,760 | $38.35 | $63,156 | $5,263 |
| 75th percentile | $86,630 | $41.65 | $67,817 | $5,651 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,360 | $48.25 | $77,133 | $6,428 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,760 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $63,156 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,129 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ 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
Phoenix, AZ ranks #55 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 |
| 55 | 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 61 metros →
Respiratory Therapist salaries elsewhere in Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $78,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $79,760 a year, or about $38.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,680 and $86,630.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $79,760 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $63,156 a year ($5,263 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,785 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,129 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #55 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $233,950
- Dentists, General — $194,180
- Veterinarian — $161,060
- Pharmacist — $144,490
- Nurse Practitioner — $136,270
- Physician Assistant — $134,650
- Optometrist — $115,960
- Occupational Therapist — $105,060
- Physical Therapist — $103,220