Respiratory Therapist salary in Wisconsin
Respiratory Therapists in Wisconsin earn a median of $84,210 a year ($40.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $70,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,320 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $82,280. Wisconsin ranks 18th of 51 states for respiratory therapists pay. There are 0.66 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $86,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,520 | $33.91 |
| 25th percentile | $78,800 | $37.89 |
| Median | $84,210 | $40.48 |
| 75th percentile | $96,510 | $46.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,320 | $48.23 |
| Average (mean) | $86,230 | $41.46 |
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 | $7,017.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,508.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,238.85 |
| Weekly | $1,619.42 |
| Hourly | $40.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Respiratory Therapist salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $100,920 | 820 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $89,040 | 630 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $86,460 | 40 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $85,700 | 100 |
| Appleton, WI | $84,300 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $82,300 | 130 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $81,600 | 70 |
| Madison, WI | $81,530 | 350 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $80,900 | 50 |
| Kenosha, WI | $77,570 | 40 |
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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $95,530 | $45.93 |
| Physicians, All Other | $391,740 | $188.34 |
| Pharmacist | $148,740 | $71.51 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,980 | $63.45 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,540 | $46.41 |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,390 | $44.42 |
| Physician Assistant | $133,950 | $64.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,000 | $39.90 |
| Dentists, General | $193,690 | $93.12 |
| Veterinarian | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $290,640 | $139.73 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $367,160 | $176.52 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,930 | $36.03 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in Wisconsin is $84,210 a year, or $40.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $70,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in Wisconsin earn at least $100,320 a year. The top 25% earn $96,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $70,520 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $78,800 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Wisconsin?
About 1,940 respiratory therapists are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.