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Respiratory therapist salary in Ohio

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$79,920median pay per year in Ohio, or $38.42 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $65,580lowest 10% earn less
  2. $75,28025th percentile
  3. $79,920median
  4. $90,38075th percentile
  5. $97,030top 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 Ohio was $79,920 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $2,360 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in OH
6,640[4]
Rank by median pay
30 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−2.9%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in Ohio?

The median is the middle point. Half of respiratory therapists in Ohio earned more than $79,920 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $38.42 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher at $81,240 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for respiratory therapists was $82,280[3], so Ohio sits $2,360 (2.9%) lower[6]. Compared with all jobs in Ohio, where the median was $49,380[8], respiratory therapists earned $30,540 more[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $65,580, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $97,030[2].

By metro area, Toledo had the highest median at $82,280[10]. Columbus came in at $81,860 and Cleveland at $80,360[11]. Huntington-Ashland, which also covers parts of West Virginia and Kentucky, was at $66,040[11]. 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 such as health insurance[12].

Ohio vs US pay

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

OHUS
Median per year$79,920[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$38.42[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$65,580[2]$63,660[13]
Top 10% earn more than$97,030[2]$118,050[13]
Jobs6,640[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio 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
Cleveland, OH[11]$80,3601,380
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$81,6001,300
Columbus, OH$81,8601,220
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$81,420610
Akron, OH$78,940350
Toledo, OH$82,280350
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH$66,040270
Canton-Massillon, OH$82,200180

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Michigan[14]$79,8504,520
Indiana$79,7303,170
Pennsylvania$78,4906,530
Kentucky$72,7502,530
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 Ohio?
The median was $79,920 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $81,240 a year[7].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in Ohio?
The median was $38.42 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $31.53 an hour and the 90th percentile was $46.65 an hour[17].
Which city in Ohio pays respiratory therapists the most?
Toledo had the highest median of the 13 Ohio metro areas with a published figure, at $82,280 a year[10].
Is Ohio a good state for respiratory therapists?
Ohio had the 30th highest median annual wage for respiratory therapists among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was $2,360 below the US median[6].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in Ohio?
Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for Ohio.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Ohio was $79,920 per year and $38.42 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 Ohio: 10th percentile $65,580, 25th percentile $75,280, 75th percentile $90,380, 90th percentile $97,030. 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 6,640 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in Ohio (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Ohio had the 30th 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 Ohio ($79,920) was $2,360 (2.9%) lower than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Respiratory Therapists in Ohio was $81,240 per year and $39.06 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Ohio was $49,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Ohio was $30,540 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, Toledo, OH had the highest median annual wage, $82,280. 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 Ohio (highest first): Michigan $79,850; Indiana $79,730; Pennsylvania $78,490; Kentucky $72,750; 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 Ohio: 10th percentile $31.53, 25th percentile $36.19, 75th percentile $43.45, 90th percentile $46.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Ohio. 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.