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Respiratory therapist salary in Wisconsin

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

$84,210median pay per year in Wisconsin, or $40.48 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $70,520lowest 10% earn less
  2. $78,80025th percentile
  3. $84,210median
  4. $96,51075th percentile
  5. $100,320top 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 Wisconsin was $84,210 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $1,930 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in WI
1,940[4]
Rank by median pay
18 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+2.3%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in Wisconsin?

Respiratory therapists in Wisconsin had a median wage of $84,210 a year, or $40.48 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher, at $86,230 a year[7].

The US median was $82,280, so Wisconsin ran $1,930 (2.3%) higher[6]. The state had the 18th highest median of the 50 states and DC[5]. Against all jobs in Wisconsin, this job paid $33,940 more at the median than the $50,270 all-occupation figure[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $70,520, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $100,320[2]. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI had the highest median among the 10 metro areas with a published figure, at $100,920[10]. Milwaukee-Waukesha was at $89,040 and Madison at $81,530[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It does not count the self-employed or owners, and it leaves out bonuses and the cost of benefits to employers[12].

Wisconsin vs US pay

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

WIUS
Median per year$84,210[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$40.48[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$70,520[2]$63,660[13]
Top 10% earn more than$100,320[2]$118,050[13]
Jobs1,940[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin 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
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI[11]$100,920820
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$89,040630
Madison, WI$81,530350
Green Bay, WI$82,300130
Duluth, MN-WI$85,700100
Janesville-Beloit, WI$81,60070
Appleton, WI$84,30060
Eau Claire, WI$80,90050

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Minnesota[14]$98,7101,250
Illinois$84,0904,880
Michigan$79,8504,520
Iowa$74,760910

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 Wisconsin?
The median was $84,210 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $86,230 a year[7].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in Wisconsin?
The median hourly wage was $40.48[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33.91 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $48.23[17][2].
Which city in Wisconsin pays respiratory therapists the most?
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI had the highest median of the 10 metro areas with a published figure, at $100,920 a year[10]. Among metro areas fully in Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Waukesha was listed at $89,040[11].
Is Wisconsin a good state for respiratory therapists?
Wisconsin ranked 18th of the 50 states and DC on median pay for this job[5]. Its median was $1,930 above the US median[6] and $33,940 above the median for all jobs in the state[8].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in Wisconsin?
This is a US figure, not a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin was $84,210 per year and $40.48 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 Wisconsin: 10th percentile $70,520, 25th percentile $78,800, 75th percentile $96,510, 90th percentile $100,320. 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 1,940 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in Wisconsin (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Wisconsin had the 18th 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 Wisconsin ($84,210) was $1,930 (2.3%) higher than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Respiratory Therapists in Wisconsin was $86,230 per year and $41.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Wisconsin was $33,940 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($50,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Wisconsin was $50,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI had the highest median annual wage, $100,920. 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 Wisconsin (highest first): Minnesota $98,710; Illinois $84,090; Michigan $79,850; Iowa $74,760. 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 Wisconsin: 10th percentile $33.91, 25th percentile $37.89, 75th percentile $46.40, 90th percentile $48.23. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Wisconsin. 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.