Respiratory Therapist salary in Tucson, AZ
Respiratory Therapists in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $78,320 a year ($37.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,390 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 2% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $79,780. There are 1.4 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $77,910, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| 25th percentile | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| Median | $78,320 | $37.66 |
| 75th percentile | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,390 | $44.90 |
| Average (mean) | $77,910 | $37.46 |
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 | $6,526.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,263.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,012.31 |
| Weekly | $1,506.15 |
| Hourly | $37.66 |
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 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $79,760 | 2,600 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $78,600 | 40 |
| 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 Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $94,110 | $45.25 |
| Pharmacist | $147,420 | $70.87 |
| Physicians, All Other | $357,070 | $171.67 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,340 | $62.18 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,420 | $49.24 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,740 | $46.51 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $95,450 | $45.89 |
| Dentists, General | $182,200 | $87.59 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $264,320 | $127.08 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $227,940 | $109.59 |
| Physician Assistant | $129,880 | $62.44 |
| Veterinarian | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $64,620 | $31.07 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $78,320 a year, or $37.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $93,390 a year. The top 25% earn $82,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,440 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $67,170 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Tucson, AZ?
About 540 respiratory therapists are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.