Respiratory Therapist salary in Merced, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $101,810 a year ($48.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,400 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $104,820. There are 0.56 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $106,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| 25th percentile | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Median | $101,810 | $48.95 |
| 75th percentile | $137,400 | $66.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,400 | $66.06 |
| Average (mean) | $106,650 | $51.28 |
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 | $8,484.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,242.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,915.77 |
| Weekly | $1,957.88 |
| Hourly | $48.95 |
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 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,760 | 370 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,250 | 310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,050 | 350 |
| 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 Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $131,620 | $63.28 |
| Pharmacist | $154,870 | $74.46 |
| Dental Hygienist | $117,400 | $56.44 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $158,750 | $76.32 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Physicians, All Other | $273,110 | $131.30 |
| Physical Therapist | $126,000 | $60.58 |
| Physician Assistant | $164,080 | $78.88 |
| Dentists, General | $170,200 | $81.83 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $270,880 | $130.23 |
| Occupational Therapist | $117,970 | $56.72 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,890 | $36.49 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $52,570 | $25.27 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Merced, 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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Merced, CA metro area is $101,810 a year, or $48.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $137,400 a year. The top 25% earn $137,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,670 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $80,110 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Merced, CA?
About 40 respiratory therapists are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.