Respiratory Therapists pay in California
$109,440avg. a year
$52.62 an hour · 18,650 employed
Respiratory Therapists in California earn an average of $109,440 a year. That is $22,140 (25%) more than the U.S. average of $87,300. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $146,490.
$104,820Median pay
$52.62Average hourly
+26%Avg. pay since 2020
#2Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for respiratory therapists by metro area. Swipe to see all 20.
11,060 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$146,490
$70.43 an hour
270 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$133,510
$64.19 an hour
3190 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$133,510
$64.19 an hour
42,010 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$128,490
$61.77 an hour
51,140 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$124,410
$59.81 an hour
6200 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$120,450
$57.91 an hour
760 jobs
Napa, CA
$115,620
$55.59 an hour
8350 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$109,200
$52.50 an hour
9130 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$109,100
$52.45 an hour
1090 jobs
Redding, CA
$108,270
$52.05 an hour
1190 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$108,020
$51.93 an hour
12270 jobs
Modesto, CA
$107,680
$51.77 an hour
1340 jobs
Merced, CA
$106,650
$51.28 an hour
14310 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$105,780
$50.86 an hour
151,430 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$105,750
$50.84 an hour
167,010 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$102,570
$49.31 an hour
17370 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$98,860
$47.53 an hour
182,200 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$98,200
$47.21 an hour
19580 jobs
Fresno, CA
$91,630
$44.05 an hour
20120 jobs
Visalia, CA
$86,630
$41.65 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Respiratory Therapists pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California respiratory therapists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $76k$76k–$81k$81k–$93k$93k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $87,300 | $41.97 |
| California | $109,440 | $52.62 |
| Oregon | $98,160 | $47.19 |
| Nevada | $90,530 | $43.53 |
| Arizona | $80,980 | $38.93 |
Related jobs in California
- Registered Nurses$150,280
- Physicians, All Other$249,620
- Nurse Practitioners$176,760
- Pharmacists$162,340
- Physical Therapists$122,580
- Dental Hygienists$128,110
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do respiratory therapists make in California?
The average is $109,440 a year, and the median is $104,820. That is $22,140 (25%) more than the U.S. average of $87,300.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$52.62 an hour on average; the median is $50.40.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,490), followed by Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($133,510). The lowest average among 20 metro areas with data is Visalia, CA ($86,630).
How does California rank?
California ranks #2 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 29-1126. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national respiratory therapists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.