Respiratory Therapist salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Respiratory Therapists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $88,020 a year ($42.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 960 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,430 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 1% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $88,960. There are 0.71 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $89,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| 25th percentile | $81,920 | $39.39 |
| Median | $88,020 | $42.32 |
| 75th percentile | $99,480 | $47.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,430 | $51.17 |
| Average (mean) | $89,340 | $42.95 |
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 | $7,335 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,667.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,385.38 |
| Weekly | $1,692.69 |
| Hourly | $42.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $88,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maryland at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $101,990 | 1,850 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $88,790 | 2,990 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $74,300 | 70 |
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 Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $99,550 | $47.86 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,990 | $63.46 |
| Physicians, All Other | $218,770 | $105.18 |
| Pharmacist | $138,110 | $66.40 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $322,890 | $155.24 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,810 | $50.87 |
| Dental Hygienist | $116,130 | $55.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $101,160 | $48.64 |
| Physician Assistant | $138,790 | $66.73 |
| Occupational Therapist | $105,490 | $50.72 |
| Dentists, General | $172,110 | $82.74 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $75,970 | $36.53 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $307,400 | $147.79 |
| Therapists, All Other | $46,540 | $22.37 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $88,020 a year, or $42.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $106,430 a year. The top 25% earn $99,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,310 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $81,920 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 960 respiratory therapists are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.