Respiratory Therapist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Respiratory Therapists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $134,880 a year ($64.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,250 for the top 10%. That is 64% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 29% higher than the California statewide median of $104,820. There are 0.69 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $133,510, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,040 | $48.10 |
| 25th percentile | $100,040 | $48.10 |
| Median | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| 75th percentile | $161,250 | $77.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,250 | $77.53 |
| Average (mean) | $133,510 | $64.19 |
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 | $11,240 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,620 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,187.69 |
| Weekly | $2,593.85 |
| Hourly | $64.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $134,880 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 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $134,430 | 1,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,220 | 2,010 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,220 | 200 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $112,430 | 90 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | $80.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | $146.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | $77.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Veterinarian | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,030 | $76.46 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,670 | $57.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $130,420 | $62.70 |
| Dentists, General | $175,950 | $84.59 |
| Acupuncturist | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| Optometrist | $122,150 | $58.73 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $103,760 | $49.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $134,880 a year, or $64.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $161,250 a year. The top 25% earn $161,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,040 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $100,040 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 70 respiratory therapists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.