Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Connecticut make a median of $85,230 a year, or about $40.98 an hour. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $82,844 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,679/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Connecticut. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Connecticut?
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What this looks like in Connecticut
Respiratory therapists pay in Connecticut tracks closely to the national median, $85K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,679/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Connecticut
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in Connecticut
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury | $98K | +15% | 260 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $90K | +5% | 140 |
| New Haven | $85K | +0% | 240 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $82K | -4% | 550 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | $79K | -8% | 80 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,345/month. At HUD’s $1,679/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Connecticut?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $85K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Connecticut pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Connecticut?
The median is $85,230 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,410, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $121,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 31.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a respiratory therapists salary go in Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median respiratory therapists salary is worth about $82,844 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.