Respiratory Therapist salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn a median of $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,770 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $104,820. There are 1.1 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $98,860, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| 25th percentile | $83,500 | $40.15 |
| Median | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| 75th percentile | $108,790 | $52.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Average (mean) | $98,860 | $47.53 |
Half of respiratory therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,563.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,281.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,952.31 |
| Weekly | $1,976.15 |
| Hourly | $49.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $149,680 | 1,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,200 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $134,880 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $134,430 | 1,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,220 | 2,010 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,220 | 200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $112,430 | 90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,600 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,040 | 1,430 |
| Napa, CA | $104,670 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,640 | 7,010 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,870 | 270 |
| Redding, CA | $103,830 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,250 | 310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,050 | 350 |
| Merced, CA | $101,810 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,480 | 2,200 |
| Fresno, CA | $83,340 | 580 |
| Visalia, CA | $82,030 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for respiratory therapists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,950 |
| New York | $107,810 |
| California | $104,820 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 |
| Washington | $101,130 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 |
| Oregon | $100,560 |
| Minnesota | $98,710 |
| Alaska | $97,950 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 |
See Respiratory Therapist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $128,810 | $61.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,930 | $77.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $165,580 | $79.61 |
| Physician Assistant | $198,070 | $95.23 |
| Dental Hygienist | $114,380 | $54.99 |
| Physical Therapist | $125,490 | $60.33 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $117,350 | $56.42 |
| Dentists, General | $172,120 | $82.75 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $332,530 | $159.87 |
| Occupational Therapist | $123,200 | $59.23 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $90,760 | $43.63 |
| Optometrist | $129,370 | $62.20 |
| Veterinarian | $150,780 | $72.49 |
| Pediatricians, General | $290,420 | $139.62 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1126. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area is $102,760 a year, or $49.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area earn at least $125,770 a year. The top 25% earn $108,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,810 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $83,500 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
About 370 respiratory therapists are employed in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.