Respiratory Therapist salary in Paducah, KY-IL
Respiratory Therapists in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median of $76,100 a year ($36.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,150 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 5% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $72,750. There are 1.7 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $73,050, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Paducah, KY-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,650 | $27.72 |
| 25th percentile | $63,320 | $30.44 |
| Median | $76,100 | $36.59 |
| 75th percentile | $79,610 | $38.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,150 | $44.78 |
| Average (mean) | $73,050 | $35.12 |
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 | $6,341.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,170.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,926.92 |
| Weekly | $1,463.46 |
| Hourly | $36.59 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $87,060 | 3,620 |
| Kankakee, IL | $84,490 | 60 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $81,600 | 1,300 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $80,040 | 430 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $79,210 | 1,260 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,150 | 60 |
| Springfield, IL | $78,340 | 140 |
| Peoria, IL | $77,660 | 210 |
| Rockford, IL | $77,640 | 160 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $76,560 | 840 |
| Bloomington, IL | $75,490 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $75,460 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $74,660 | 120 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $74,040 | 40 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $68,490 | 90 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $66,910 | 90 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $66,040 | 270 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Paducah, KY-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Pharmacist | $134,810 | $64.81 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,200 | $59.71 |
| Dental Hygienist | $79,610 | $38.28 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,330 | $47.76 |
| Physicians, All Other | $378,880 | $182.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Physician Assistant | $124,990 | $60.09 |
| Occupational Therapist | $94,250 | $45.31 |
| Anesthesiologist | $350,260 | $168.39 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $234,140 | $112.57 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $62,060 | $29.84 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $59,730 | $28.71 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Paducah, KY-IL
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 Paducah, KY-IL?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $76,100 a year, or $36.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn at least $93,150 a year. The top 25% earn $79,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Paducah, KY-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,650 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $63,320 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Paducah, KY-IL?
About 80 respiratory therapists are employed in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.