Respiratory Therapist Salary in Riverside, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $100,480 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,096 take-home, or $6,091 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,276
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,230
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,457
- California income tax$5,115
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,306
- Take-home pay$73,096
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,970 | $34.12 | $55,369 | $4,614 |
| 25th percentile | $81,740 | $39.30 | $61,899 | $5,158 |
| Median (50th) | $100,480 | $48.31 | $73,096 | $6,091 |
| 75th percentile | $105,390 | $50.67 | $76,030 | $6,336 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,730 | $61.89 | $89,837 | $7,486 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,480 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $73,096 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,672 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Riverside, CA has 1.4× 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
Riverside, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $100,480 | $73,096 | $68,672 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $149,680
- Sacramento, CA — $134,430
- San Francisco, CA — $130,220
- San Diego, CA — $105,040
- Los Angeles, CA — $104,640
- Fresno, CA — $83,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Riverside, CA?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $100,480 a year, or about $48.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,740 and $105,390.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $100,480 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,096 a year ($6,091 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,421 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,672 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560