Respiratory Therapist salary in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn a median of $112,430 a year ($54.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,010 for the top 10%. That is 37% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 7% higher than the California statewide median of $104,820. There are 0.70 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $108,020, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| 25th percentile | $92,980 | $44.70 |
| Median | $112,430 | $54.06 |
| 75th percentile | $128,970 | $62.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,010 | $62.99 |
| Average (mean) | $108,020 | $51.93 |
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 | $9,369.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,684.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,324.23 |
| Weekly | $2,162.12 |
| Hourly | $54.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $112,430 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $149,680 | 1,060 |
| Vallejo, CA | $136,200 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $134,880 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $134,430 | 1,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,220 | 2,010 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,220 | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,600 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,040 | 1,430 |
| Napa, CA | $104,670 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,640 | 7,010 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,870 | 270 |
| Redding, CA | $103,830 | 90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,760 | 370 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,250 | 310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,050 | 350 |
| Merced, CA | $101,810 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,480 | 2,200 |
| Fresno, CA | $83,340 | 580 |
| Visalia, CA | $82,030 | 120 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $138,820 | $66.74 |
| Pharmacist | $172,860 | $83.11 |
| Dental Hygienist | $125,670 | $60.42 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $162,950 | $78.34 |
| Veterinarian | $151,990 | $73.07 |
| Dentists, General | $170,630 | $82.04 |
| Occupational Therapist | $110,170 | $52.96 |
| Physician Assistant | $162,790 | $78.27 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $115,560 | $55.56 |
| Physicians, All Other | $290,330 | $139.58 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $97,350 | $46.80 |
| Psychiatrist | $322,750 | $155.17 |
| Chiropractor | $83,440 | $40.11 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $112,430 a year, or $54.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn at least $131,010 a year. The top 25% earn $128,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,190 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $92,980 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
About 90 respiratory therapists are employed in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.