Respiratory Therapist salary in Birmingham, AL
Respiratory Therapists in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median of $67,480 a year ($32.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,000 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 2% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $66,150. There are 1.5 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Birmingham, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| 25th percentile | $57,110 | $27.46 |
| Median | $67,480 | $32.44 |
| 75th percentile | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Average (mean) | $67,650 | $32.53 |
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 | $5,623.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,811.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,595.38 |
| Weekly | $1,297.69 |
| Hourly | $32.44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | $79,490 | 180 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $77,150 | 150 |
| Montgomery, AL | $76,920 | 180 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $74,650 | 80 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $66,740 | 60 |
| Huntsville, AL | $64,330 | 270 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $64,140 | 110 |
| Gadsden, AL | $62,800 | 70 |
| Dothan, AL | $61,290 | 100 |
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 Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| Pharmacist | $138,800 | $66.73 |
| Physicians, All Other | $237,040 | $113.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $107,700 | $51.78 |
| Dental Hygienist | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| Physical Therapist | $97,750 | $47.00 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $175,850 | $84.54 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $75,750 | $36.42 |
| Occupational Therapist | $95,250 | $45.80 |
| Veterinarian | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Physician Assistant | $105,440 | $50.69 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $65,220 | $31.35 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $334,100 | $160.63 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $119,990 | $57.69 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Birmingham, AL
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 Birmingham, AL?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $67,480 a year, or $32.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Birmingham, AL?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn at least $81,000 a year. The top 25% earn $77,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Birmingham, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,850 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $57,110 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Birmingham, AL?
About 790 respiratory therapists are employed in the Birmingham, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.