Respiratory Therapist salary in Modesto, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $103,870 a year ($49.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,280 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $104,820. There are 1.4 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $107,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,010 | $39.91 |
| 25th percentile | $96,640 | $46.46 |
| Median | $103,870 | $49.94 |
| 75th percentile | $125,080 | $60.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,280 | $64.56 |
| Average (mean) | $107,680 | $51.77 |
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 | $8,655.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,327.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,995 |
| Weekly | $1,997.50 |
| Hourly | $49.94 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $132,590 | $63.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $126,600 | $60.86 |
| Dental Hygienist | $123,910 | $59.57 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $173,380 | $83.36 |
| Pharmacist | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Physicians, All Other | $323,580 | $155.57 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $116,770 | $56.14 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,730 | $79.68 |
| Occupational Therapist | $121,110 | $58.23 |
| Dentists, General | $167,050 | $80.31 |
| Veterinarian | $162,160 | $77.96 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $97,830 | $47.03 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $260,020 | $125.01 |
| Optometrist | $137,480 | $66.09 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Modesto, CA metro area is $103,870 a year, or $49.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $134,280 a year. The top 25% earn $125,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,010 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $96,640 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Modesto, CA?
About 270 respiratory therapists are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.