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Respiratory therapist salary in Kentucky

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$72,750median pay per year in Kentucky, or $34.98 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $58,330lowest 10% earn less
  2. $63,11025th percentile
  3. $72,750median
  4. $79,73075th percentile
  5. $92,540top 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 Kentucky was $72,750 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $9,530 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in KY
2,530[4]
Rank by median pay
45 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−11.6%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in Kentucky?

Respiratory therapists in Kentucky had a median wage of $72,750 a year, or $34.98 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more than that and half earned less. The average was close, at $72,470 a year[7].

Across the US the median was $82,280, so Kentucky ran $9,530 (11.6%) lower[6]. Kentucky had the 45th highest median of the 50 states and DC[5]. Against all jobs in the state, respiratory therapists did well. Their median was $25,830 above the $46,920 median for all occupations in Kentucky[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,330, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $92,540[2]. Among Kentucky metro areas, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN had the highest median at $81,600[10]. Lexington-Fayette came next on the list at $80,040 and Louisville/Jefferson County at $76,560[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners, and it does not include bonuses or the value of benefits like health insurance[12].

Kentucky vs US pay

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

KYUS
Median per year$72,750[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$34.98[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$58,330[2]$63,660[13]
Top 10% earn more than$92,540[2]$118,050[13]
Jobs2,530[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky with the most jobs for respiratory therapists, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN[11]$81,6001,300
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$76,560840
Lexington-Fayette, KY$80,040430
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH$66,040270
Bowling Green, KY$68,49090
Paducah, KY-IL$76,10080
Clarksville, TN-KY$79,15060
Elizabethtown, KY$74,04040

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for respiratory therapists in the states that border Kentucky, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Illinois[14]$84,0904,880
Virginia$82,9103,340
Ohio$79,9206,640
Indiana$79,7303,170
Missouri$78,3903,030
Tennessee$72,1403,440
West Virginia$68,6701,140

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[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a respiratory therapist make in Kentucky?
The median was $72,750 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $72,470 a year[7].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in Kentucky?
The median hourly wage was $34.98[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28.04 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $44.49[17][2].
Which city in Kentucky pays respiratory therapists the most?
Of the 8 metro areas with a published median, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN paid the highest, at $81,600 a year[10].
Is Kentucky a good state for respiratory therapists?
Kentucky ranked 45th of the 50 states and DC on median pay for this job[5]. Its median was $9,530 below the US median[6] and $25,830 above the median for all jobs in the state[8].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in Kentucky?
This is a US figure, not a Kentucky one. Across the US, the typical entry education is an Associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Kentucky was $72,750 per year and $34.98 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 Kentucky: 10th percentile $58,330, 25th percentile $63,110, 75th percentile $79,730, 90th percentile $92,540. 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 2,530 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in Kentucky (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Kentucky had the 45th 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 Kentucky ($72,750) was $9,530 (11.6%) lower than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Respiratory Therapists in Kentucky was $72,470 per year and $34.84 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Kentucky was $25,830 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($46,920). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Kentucky was $46,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 8 metro areas in or partly in Kentucky with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN had the highest median annual wage, $81,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in states that border Kentucky (highest first): Illinois $84,090; Virginia $82,910; Ohio $79,920; Indiana $79,730; Missouri $78,390; Tennessee $72,140; West Virginia $68,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Respiratory Therapists in Kentucky: 10th percentile $28.04, 25th percentile $30.34, 75th percentile $38.33, 90th percentile $44.49. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Kentucky. 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.