Respiratory Therapist salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Respiratory Therapists in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median of $79,760 a year ($38.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,360 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is about the same as the Arizona statewide median of $79,780. There are 1.1 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,740 | $31.12 |
| 25th percentile | $69,680 | $33.50 |
| Median | $79,760 | $38.34 |
| 75th percentile | $86,630 | $41.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,360 | $48.25 |
| Average (mean) | $81,710 | $39.28 |
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 | $6,646.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,323.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,067.69 |
| Weekly | $1,533.85 |
| Hourly | $38.34 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $86,220 | 60 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $82,200 | 60 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $78,600 | 40 |
| Tucson, AZ | $78,320 | 540 |
| Yuma, AZ | $73,580 | 80 |
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 Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,830 | $48.48 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $136,270 | $65.51 |
| Physicians, All Other | $301,270 | $144.84 |
| Pharmacist | $144,490 | $69.46 |
| Physical Therapist | $103,220 | $49.63 |
| Dental Hygienist | $102,520 | $49.29 |
| Physician Assistant | $134,650 | $64.73 |
| Dentists, General | $194,180 | $93.36 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,040 | $47.14 |
| Occupational Therapist | $105,060 | $50.51 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $341,680 | $164.27 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $259,320 | $124.67 |
| Veterinarian | $161,060 | $77.43 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $64,420 | $30.97 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $79,760 a year, or $38.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn at least $100,360 a year. The top 25% earn $86,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,740 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $69,680 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
About 2,600 respiratory therapists are employed in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.