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Respiratory therapist salary in Oklahoma

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

$78,800median pay per year in Oklahoma, or $37.88 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $64,380lowest 10% earn less
  2. $67,11025th percentile
  3. $78,800median
  4. $83,61075th percentile
  5. $95,350top 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 Oklahoma was $78,800 a year in May 2025[1]. That was lower than the US median of $82,280[3].

Jobs in OK
2,000[4]
Rank by median pay
36 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−4.2%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in Oklahoma?

The median means half of the respiratory therapists in Oklahoma earned more than $78,800 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $37.88 an hour[1]. The average was a little lower, at $77,710 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $82,280, so Oklahoma sat $3,480 below it[6]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for this job was $33,200 higher than the $45,600 all-jobs median[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,380, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $95,350[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $67,110 and $83,610[2].

Among Oklahoma metro areas, Oklahoma City had the highest median, at $80,810, and it also had the largest job count[10][11]. Tulsa followed with a median of $80,250[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Oklahoma vs US pay

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

OKUS
Median per year$78,800[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$37.88[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$64,380[2]$63,660[13]
Top 10% earn more than$95,350[2]$118,050[13]
Jobs2,000[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma 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
Oklahoma City, OK[11]$80,810950
Tulsa, OK$80,250540
Fort Smith, AR-OK$78,080100
Enid, OK$77,23040

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Colorado[14]$86,2202,110
Texas$79,54012,130
Missouri$78,3903,030
Kansas$76,9701,450
Arkansas$73,8701,400
New Mexico$68,870840

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 Oklahoma?
The median was $78,800 a year in May 2025, and the average was $77,710[1][7].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in Oklahoma?
The median hourly wage was $37.88[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30.95 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $45.84[17][2].
Which city in Oklahoma pays respiratory therapists the most?
Oklahoma City had the highest median of the metro areas with a published figure, at $80,810 a year[10].
Is Oklahoma a good state for respiratory therapists?
Oklahoma had the 36th highest median wage for this job out of the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was $3,480 below the US median[6].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in Oklahoma?
This is a US figure, not a state 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 Oklahoma was $78,800 per year and $37.88 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 Oklahoma: 10th percentile $64,380, 25th percentile $67,110, 75th percentile $83,610, 90th percentile $95,350. 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 2,000 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in Oklahoma (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Oklahoma had the 36th 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 Oklahoma ($78,800) was $3,480 (4.2%) lower than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Respiratory Therapists in Oklahoma was $77,710 per year and $37.36 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Oklahoma was $33,200 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($45,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Oklahoma was $45,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 4 metro areas in or partly in Oklahoma with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, Oklahoma City, OK had the highest median annual wage, $80,810. 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 Oklahoma (highest first): Colorado $86,220; Texas $79,540; Missouri $78,390; Kansas $76,970; Arkansas $73,870; New Mexico $68,870. 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 Oklahoma: 10th percentile $30.95, 25th percentile $32.27, 75th percentile $40.20, 90th percentile $45.84. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Oklahoma. 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.