Respiratory Therapist Salary in California (2026)
How much do respiratory therapists (RTs, also called respiratory care practitioners) actually make in California? Instead of vague averages, this guide uses real hourly rates from union contract wage scales at California hospitals. The short version: most staff respiratory therapists in California earn between $50 and $63 per hour — roughly $104,000 to $131,000 a year full-time — while entry roles start near $40/hr and lead RTs reach about $81/hr.
Respiratory therapist pay by California hospital
Here's what real union wage scales show across hospitals in our data. Click any hospital for the full step-by-step pay scale.
| Hospital | Hourly range | Full scale |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital (Lead RT) | $65.75–$81.40 | View → |
| Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta | $51.15–$63.27 | View → |
| St. Elizabeth Community Hospital (RT II) | $50.85–$62.90 | View → |
| Mercy Medical Center Redding (RT II) | $50.85–$62.90 | View → |
| Kaiser Permanente San Diego (RCP) | $49.63–$62.20 | View → |
| St. Mary's Medical Center (Assoc. RCP) | $36.74–$54.16 | View → |
| San Mateo County Health (RT I) | $40.20–$50.22 | View → |
Each bar spans the start rate to the top rate at that hospital.
Rates from union contract wage scales effective 2025. "RT I / Associate" = entry classifications; "RT II / RCP" = standard staff roles; "Lead" = senior/lead therapist.
Starting salary comparison: nominal pay vs. cost of living
A higher hourly rate doesn't always leave you with more money. Here we compare starting respiratory therapist pay at four California hospitals in different regions — then adjust for rent to show what you actually keep each month.
| Hospital (Region) | Start rate | Annual gross | vs. Bay Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo County Health (Bay Area) | $40.20/hr | $83,616 | baseline |
| Kaiser Permanente (San Diego) | $49.63/hr | $103,230 | +23.5% · +$19,614 |
| St. Elizabeth (Red Bluff) | $50.85/hr | $105,768 | +26.5% · +$22,152 |
| Mercy Mt. Shasta (Mt. Shasta) | $51.15/hr | $106,392 | +27.2% · +$22,776 |
Annual gross pay (visual)
Now adjust for rent — what you actually keep
Here's the same four jobs showing estimated monthly take-home after taxes minus a typical 1-bedroom rent in each area. This is the money left for everything else.
| Region | Net/mo | Est. 1BR rent | Left after rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Area (San Mateo) | $5,169 | -$2,800 | $2,369 |
| San Diego | $6,149 | -$2,450 | $3,699 |
| Red Bluff | $6,276 | -$1,200 | $5,076 |
| Mt. Shasta | $6,307 | -$1,150 | $5,157 |
Money left after rent (visual)
Rent figures are 2025-2026 estimates for a typical 1-bedroom in each area (based on national rent market reports). Take-home is for a single filer using 2025-2026 tax brackets. Your actual rent and taxes will vary. Compare more cities on our cost of living pages.
What respiratory therapist pay looks like per year
Converting hourly to annual (40 hours/week × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours):
| Hourly rate | Annual (gross) | Monthly (gross) |
|---|---|---|
| $40/hr (entry RT I) | $83,200 | $6,933 |
| $50/hr (staff) | $104,000 | $8,667 |
| $56/hr (experienced) | $116,480 | $9,707 |
| $63/hr (top staff) | $131,040 | $10,920 |
| $81/hr (lead) | $168,480 | $14,040 |
Take-home pay after taxes
Gross pay isn't what you keep. Here's the real take-home for a single filer in California at common RT rates, after federal tax, CA state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and SDI (before health insurance and retirement):
| Salary | Annual take-home | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| $83,200 ($40/hr) | ~$61,800 | ~$5,150 |
| $106,000 ($51/hr) | ~$75,500 | ~$6,290 |
| $131,040 ($63/hr) | ~$90,100 | ~$7,510 |
See a full $100k California take-home breakdown →
Shift differentials add more
Base pay is only part of the picture. Most California hospital contracts add premiums on top:
- Evening/night differential: often $2–$8/hr or a percentage of base pay
- Weekend differential: commonly $2–$4/hr extra
- On-call / standby pay: for RTs covering shifts outside their schedule
- Lead and certification premiums: extra for lead duties or advanced credentials
Respiratory therapists frequently work nights and weekends, so differentials can add several thousand dollars a year. See our guide on how much night differential is really worth.
Why these numbers are different from Glassdoor
Most salary sites show self-reported estimates or gross ranges. These figures come from actual union collective bargaining agreements — the legally binding wage scales hospitals must follow. That means the rates are exact, tied to specific job classifications and years of service, not "someone said they make around $X."
See what real workers take home
WAGETru shows verified pay from real union contracts — not estimates. Browse wages · Union lookup · Submit your paystub