Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

29-1126 Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
116,960 1.0 % $27.50 $57,200 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $19.70 $22.85 $26.86 $31.90 $36.26
Annual Wage (2) $40,980 $47,520 $55,870 $66,350 $75,430

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 88,760 1.69 $27.29 $56,760
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 5,960 2.59 $28.44 $59,150
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 4,200 0.25 $28.64 $59,570
Offices of Physicians 2,950 0.12 $27.80 $57,830
Employment Services 2,600 0.08 $30.96 $64,390

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 5,960 2.59 $28.44 $59,150
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 88,760 1.69 $27.29 $56,760
Consumer Goods Rental 2,390 1.41 $24.13 $50,190
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 4,200 0.25 $28.64 $59,570
Outpatient Care Centers 1,440 0.22 $32.56 $67,720

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,040 0.04 $32.75 $68,120
Outpatient Care Centers 1,440 0.22 $32.56 $67,720
Management of Companies and Enterprises (8) (8) $31.70 $65,930
Employment Services 2,600 0.08 $30.96 $64,390
Home Health Care Services 1,290 0.11 $28.71 $59,730

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 14,800 1.03 1.15 $35.25 $73,320
Texas 10,110 0.96 1.06 $26.05 $54,190
Florida 7,340 1.01 1.12 $25.83 $53,720
New York 6,080 0.71 0.79 $30.95 $64,380
Ohio 5,680 1.12 1.25 $25.07 $52,150




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kentucky 2,410 1.37 1.52 $21.85 $45,460
Mississippi 1,390 1.28 1.43 $23.20 $48,260
Tennessee 3,350 1.26 1.40 $22.90 $47,640
Alabama 2,230 1.22 1.36 $22.00 $45,770
Indiana 3,310 1.18 1.31 $24.68 $51,340




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 14,800 1.03 1.15 $35.25 $73,320
Nevada 880 0.78 0.87 $33.43 $69,540
Connecticut 1,370 0.84 0.94 $32.64 $67,890
New Jersey 2,790 0.74 0.82 $32.53 $67,670
Alaska 190 0.60 0.67 $32.32 $67,220





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 4,780 1.23 1.38 $33.12 $68,890
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,390 0.66 0.73 $33.28 $69,210
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 2,840 0.78 0.87 $26.35 $54,820
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 2,420 0.92 1.02 $27.19 $56,550
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 2,000 1.10 1.22 $28.63 $59,550
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 1,920 0.92 1.02 $27.13 $56,420
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 1,900 0.84 0.94 $25.55 $53,150
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 1,620 0.93 1.04 $25.41 $52,850
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 1,530 1.08 1.21 $35.45 $73,740
Indianapolis-Carmel, IN 1,360 1.53 1.71 $24.94 $51,870




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Lake Havasu City - Kingman, AZ 130 3.04 3.38 $25.76 $53,570
Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV 130 2.97 3.31 $25.15 $52,320
Tyler, TX 240 2.58 2.87 $23.51 $48,890
Johnstown, PA 140 2.54 2.83 $24.29 $50,530
Lima, OH 120 2.51 2.79 $23.44 $48,760
Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL 100 2.25 2.51 $23.84 $49,580
Chico, CA 150 2.18 2.43 $33.06 $68,760
Dothan, AL 120 2.17 2.41 $24.76 $51,500
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA 240 2.07 2.31 $21.61 $44,960
Joplin, MO 160 2.06 2.29 $23.97 $49,860