Michigan Median
$79,850
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.39
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $82,280
State Rank
#31 of 51
4,520 employed here
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in Michigan?
Respiratory Therapists in Michigan take home a median of $79,850 annually — roughly $38.39 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $82,280.
Within Michigan, entry-level pay starts around $64,770 while the top 10% make $90,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $71,740 and $83,020 a year.
Respiratory Therapist salary range in Michigan
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,770 | $31.14 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $71,740 | $34.49 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $79,850 | $38.39 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $83,020 | $39.91 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,210 | $43.37 |
|
How Michigan compares
Michigan ranks 31st out of 51 states and territories for Respiratory Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Respiratory Therapist salary in other states
District of Columbia $111,950New York $107,810California $104,820Massachusetts $102,170Washington $101,130New Jersey $100,810Oregon $100,560Minnesota $98,710Alaska $97,950New Hampshire $95,940Hawaii $94,210Delaware $91,080Maryland $88,960Rhode Island $86,900Colorado $86,220Nevada $85,480Connecticut $85,230Wisconsin $84,210Illinois $84,090Vermont $83,820Georgia $83,700Virginia $82,910Maine $82,470Nebraska $81,590North Dakota $81,230Montana $81,190Florida $81,160Utah $80,650North Carolina $80,090Ohio $79,920Arizona $79,780Indiana $79,730Texas $79,540Wyoming $79,330Oklahoma $78,800Pennsylvania $78,490Idaho $78,460Missouri $78,390South Carolina $77,740Kansas $76,970Louisiana $75,240Iowa $74,760Arkansas $73,870Kentucky $72,750Tennessee $72,140New Mexico $68,870West Virginia $68,670South Dakota $68,240Alabama $66,150Mississippi $63,270
Working as a Respiratory Therapist in Michigan
Nationally, about 140,000 people work as Respiratory Therapists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Michigan pay ($79,850) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in Michigan?
The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Michigan is $79,850 per year, or about $38.39 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $64,770 at the entry level to $90,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Michigan pay compare to the national average?
Michigan pays Respiratory Therapists about 3% less than the national median of $82,280. Michigan ranks 31st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Michigan a good state for Respiratory Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $79,850 a year. About 4,520 Respiratory Therapists are employed in Michigan. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Michigan?
The highest-paying occupations in Michigan include Radiologist ($485,920), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($428,570), Cardiologist ($419,030), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Respiratory Therapist salary report
Related salaries
$98,100
median pay · 223,000 employed
$100,040
median pay · 4,000 employed
$59,460
median pay · 9,000 employed
$50,290
median pay · 183,000 employed
$65,160
median pay · 11,000 employed
$61,960
median pay · 15,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.