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Respiratory therapist salary in Indiana

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$79,730median pay per year in Indiana, or $38.33 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,730lowest 10% earn less
  2. $67,76025th percentile
  3. $79,730median
  4. $84,96075th percentile
  5. $94,980top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $82,280[3]

The median pay for respiratory therapists in Indiana was $79,730 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $2,550 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in IN
3,170[4]
Rank by median pay
33 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−3.1%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in Indiana?

Half of respiratory therapists in Indiana earned more than $79,730 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $38.33 an hour[1].

Across the US, the median for this job was $82,280 a year[3]. Indiana came in $2,550, or 3.1%, lower than that[6]. Indiana had the 33rd highest median for this job out of the 50 states and DC with a published figure[5]. The median for all occupations in Indiana was $47,860, so they earned $31,870 more[7][8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,730, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $94,980[2]. Among the 10 metro areas with a published median, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest at $87,060[9]. Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood had a median of $81,720[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits to employers[11].

Indiana vs US pay

Pay for respiratory therapists in Indiana next to the national figures[1][3].

INUS
Median per year$79,730[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$38.33[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$62,730[2]$63,660[12]
Top 10% earn more than$94,980[2]$118,050[12]
Jobs3,170[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Indiana

Metro areas in Indiana with the most jobs for respiratory therapists, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN[10]$87,0603,620
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$81,6001,300
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$81,7201,230
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$76,560840
Fort Wayne, IN$77,390210
Evansville, IN$78,990170
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN$80,140110
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$79,450110

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for respiratory therapists in the states that border Indiana, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Illinois[13]$84,0904,880
Ohio$79,9206,640
Michigan$79,8504,520
Kentucky$72,7502,530

Median pay for respiratory therapists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for respiratory therapists are projected to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a respiratory therapist make in Indiana?
The median was $79,730 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,730 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $94,980[2].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in Indiana?
The median hourly wage was $38.33[1].
Which city in Indiana pays respiratory therapists the most?
Of the 10 metro areas with a published median, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest at $87,060 a year[9].
Is Indiana a good state for respiratory therapists?
Indiana ranked 33rd out of 50 states and DC for the median annual wage for this job[5]. The median was $2,550 lower than the US median[6]. It was $31,870 above the median for all jobs in Indiana[8].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in Indiana?
This is a US figure, not a state one. Across the US, the typical entry education is an associate's degree[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Indiana was $79,730 per year and $38.33 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Respiratory Therapists in Indiana: 10th percentile $62,730, 25th percentile $67,760, 75th percentile $84,960, 90th percentile $94,980. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in the US as a whole was $82,280 per year and $39.56 per hour, with about 139,790 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,170 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in Indiana (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Indiana had the 33rd highest median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Indiana ($79,730) was $2,550 (3.1%) lower than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Indiana was $47,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Indiana was $31,870 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,860). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in Indiana with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median annual wage, $87,060. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Respiratory Therapists in the US: 10th percentile $63,660, 25th percentile $74,520, 75th percentile $98,730, 90th percentile $118,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in states that border Indiana (highest first): Illinois $84,090; Ohio $79,920; Michigan $79,850; Kentucky $72,750. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Respiratory Therapists is projected to grow 8.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,600 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Respiratory Therapists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only Indiana. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.