Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Alabama make a median of $66,150 a year, or about $31.81 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $74,864 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 25% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Alabama?
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for respiratory therapists in Alabama runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $82K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in Alabama
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | $79K | +20% | 180 |
| Montgomery | $77K | +16% | 180 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $75K | +13% | 80 |
| Birmingham | $67K | +2% | 790 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $67K | +1% | 60 |
| Huntsville | $64K | -3% | 270 |
| Tuscaloosa | $64K | -3% | 110 |
| Gadsden | $63K | -5% | 70 |
| Dothan | $61K | -7% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track respiratory therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,015/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is respiratory therapist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $66K here vs. $82K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Alabama pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Alabama?
The median is $66,150 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,250, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $81,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,315/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a respiratory therapists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median respiratory therapists salary is worth about $74,864 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do respiratory therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.