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Respiratory therapist salary in New Jersey

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$100,810median pay per year in New Jersey, or $48.47 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $78,000lowest 10% earn less
  2. $87,56025th percentile
  3. $100,810median
  4. $106,32075th percentile
  5. $123,370top 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 New Jersey was $100,810 a year in May 2025[1]. That ranked 6th highest among the states and DC[5].

Jobs in NJ
3,350[4]
Rank by median pay
6 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+22.5%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in New Jersey?

Half of respiratory therapists in New Jersey earned more than $100,810 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $48.47 an hour[1]. The average was a little lower, at $99,760 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $82,280[3], so New Jersey sat $18,530 (22.5%) above it[6]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for this job was $42,240 higher than the all-occupations median of $58,570[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,000 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $123,370[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $87,560 and $106,320[2]. About 3,350 people worked in this job in the state[4].

By metro area, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median, at $110,490[10]. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ followed at $104,350, and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington was at $88,790[11]. These figures count wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

New Jersey vs US pay

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

NJUS
Median per year$100,810[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$48.47[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$78,000[2]$63,660[13]
Top 10% earn more than$123,370[2]$118,050[13]
Jobs3,350[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey 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
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[11]$110,4907,010
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$88,7902,990
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$79,960490
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$104,350110

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[14]$107,8107,010
Delaware$91,080500
Pennsylvania$78,4906,530

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[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 New Jersey?
The median was $100,810 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $99,760[7].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in New Jersey?
The median hourly wage was $48.47[1]. The 10th percentile was $37.50 an hour and the 90th percentile was $59.31[17].
Which city in New Jersey pays respiratory therapists the most?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median, $110,490 a year[10]. This metro area crosses state lines and is counted as a whole[11].
Is New Jersey a good state for respiratory therapists?
New Jersey had the 6th highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 22.5% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in New Jersey?
This is a US figure, not one for New Jersey. Across the US, the typical entry education is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training usually needed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in New Jersey was $100,810 per year and $48.47 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 New Jersey: 10th percentile $78,000, 25th percentile $87,560, 75th percentile $106,320, 90th percentile $123,370. 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 3,350 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in New Jersey (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: New Jersey had the 6th 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 New Jersey ($100,810) was $18,530 (22.5%) higher than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Respiratory Therapists in New Jersey was $99,760 per year and $47.96 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in New Jersey was $42,240 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New Jersey was $58,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 4 metro areas in or partly in New Jersey with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median annual wage, $110,490. 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 New Jersey (highest first): New York $107,810; Delaware $91,080; Pennsylvania $78,490. 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 New Jersey: 10th percentile $37.50, 25th percentile $42.09, 75th percentile $51.12, 90th percentile $59.31. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only New Jersey. 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.