Missouri Median
$78,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.69
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $82,280
State Rank
#39 of 51
3,030 employed here
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in Missouri?
A Respiratory Therapist working in Missouri earns a median salary of $78,390 per year, or about $37.69 per hour. That is 5% below the national median of $82,280 for this occupation.
Within Missouri, entry-level pay starts around $60,950 while the top 10% make $95,730 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,800 and $83,030 a year.
Respiratory Therapist salary range in Missouri
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,950 | $29.30 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $64,800 | $31.15 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,390 | $37.69 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $83,030 | $39.92 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,730 | $46.02 |
|
How Missouri compares
Missouri ranks 39th 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 $79,920Michigan $79,850Arizona $79,780Indiana $79,730Texas $79,540Wyoming $79,330Oklahoma $78,800Pennsylvania $78,490Idaho $78,460South 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 Missouri
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 Missouri pay ($78,390) 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 Missouri?
The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Missouri is $78,390 per year, or about $37.69 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $60,950 at the entry level to $95,730 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Missouri pay compare to the national average?
Missouri pays Respiratory Therapists about 5% less than the national median of $82,280. Missouri ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Missouri a good state for Respiratory Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $78,390 a year. About 3,030 Respiratory Therapists are employed in Missouri. 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 Missouri?
The highest-paying occupations in Missouri include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($842,800), Cardiologist ($648,070), Emergency Medicine Physician ($456,280), 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.