Respiratory Therapist salary in Iowa
Respiratory Therapists in Iowa earn a median of $74,760 a year ($35.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 910 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,510 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $82,280. Iowa ranks 43rd of 51 states for respiratory therapists pay. There are 0.58 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $74,260, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,860 | $30.22 |
| 25th percentile | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| Median | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| 75th percentile | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,510 | $41.59 |
| Average (mean) | $74,260 | $35.70 |
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 | $6,230 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,115 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,875.38 |
| Weekly | $1,437.69 |
| Hourly | $35.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Respiratory Therapist salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $81,270 | 460 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $75,650 | 200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $75,460 | 100 |
| Iowa City, IA | $75,110 | 150 |
| Dubuque, IA | $74,190 | 40 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $66,830 | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $65,070 | 70 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $63,800 | 40 |
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 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $78,630 | $37.80 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,160 | $62.58 |
| Pharmacist | $138,860 | $66.76 |
| Physical Therapist | $97,560 | $46.90 |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,010 | $40.39 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $81,050 | $38.97 |
| Physicians, All Other | $295,190 | $141.92 |
| Occupational Therapist | $89,910 | $43.22 |
| Dentists, General | $181,520 | $87.27 |
| Physician Assistant | $134,770 | $64.79 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $265,200 | $127.50 |
| Veterinarian | $124,610 | $59.91 |
| Chiropractor | $75,050 | $36.08 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $72,690 | $34.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in Iowa is $74,760 a year, or $35.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Iowa?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in Iowa earn at least $86,510 a year. The top 25% earn $80,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,860 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $64,670 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Iowa?
About 910 respiratory therapists are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.