Respiratory Therapist Salary in Washington, DC
Respiratory Therapists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $101,990 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,879 take-home, or $6,240 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,608
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,323
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,479
- District of Columbia income tax$5,701
- Take-home pay$74,879
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,410 | $38.18 | $60,914 | $5,076 |
| 25th percentile | $86,950 | $41.80 | $65,577 | $5,465 |
| Median (50th) | $101,990 | $49.03 | $74,879 | $6,240 |
| 75th percentile | $108,130 | $51.99 | $78,677 | $6,556 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,400 | $61.25 | $90,483 | $7,540 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,990 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $74,879 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,770 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Respiratory Therapist jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $101,990 | $74,879 | $68,770 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 61 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Washington, DC?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $101,990 a year, or about $49.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $86,950 and $108,130.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $101,990 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $74,879 a year ($6,240 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,701 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,770 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #13 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,140
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $223,250
- Nurse Anesthetist — $223,150
- Physicians, All Other — $208,710
- Dentists, General — $184,540
- Pediatricians, General — $172,520
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $166,230
- Optometrist — $154,690
- Veterinarian — $154,350
- Pharmacist — $150,540