Respiratory Therapist Salary in Tulsa, OK
Respiratory Therapists in the Tulsa, OK metro area earn a median $80,250 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,220 take-home, or $5,185 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Tulsa, OK. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,825
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,976
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,164
- Oklahoma income tax$3,066
- Take-home pay$62,220
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.50% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Tulsa, OK
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,020 | $30.78 | $51,285 | $4,274 |
| 25th percentile | $66,970 | $32.20 | $53,475 | $4,456 |
| Median (50th) | $80,250 | $38.58 | $62,220 | $5,185 |
| 75th percentile | $84,440 | $40.60 | $64,979 | $5,415 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,230 | $45.78 | $72,084 | $6,007 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oklahoma resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,250 buys in Tulsa, OK
Prices in Tulsa, OK are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $62,220 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,743 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tulsa, OK has 1.3× 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
Tulsa, OK ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Tulsa, OK | $80,250 | $62,220 | $69,743 |
*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 Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, OK — $80,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Tulsa, OK?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Tulsa, OK metro area is $80,250 a year, or about $38.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,970 and $84,440.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Tulsa, OK?
On the median $80,250 salary, a single filer living in Oklahoma takes home about $62,220 a year ($5,185 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,066 in Oklahoma taxes in 2026.
Is Tulsa, OK a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,743 would in a typical U.S. city. Tulsa, OK ranks #11 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Tulsa, OK?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tulsa, OK is $976 a month ($1,204 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tulsa, OK
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,820
- Nurse Practitioner — $139,460
- Physical Therapist — $100,840
- Dental Hygienist — $100,350
- Registered Nurse — $84,790
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $83,970
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $67,330
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,820
- Surgical Technologist — $59,570
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $54,320