Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Iowa make a median of $74,760 a year, or about $35.94 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $84,132 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Respiratory therapists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in Iowa
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $76K | +1% | 200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $75K | +1% | 100 |
| Iowa City | $75K | +0% | 150 |
| Dubuque | $74K | -1% | 40 |
| Cedar Rapids | $67K | -11% | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $65K | -13% | 70 |
| Sioux City | $64K | -15% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track respiratory therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,772/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is respiratory therapist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Iowa pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Iowa?
The median is $74,760 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,860, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $86,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,762/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 22.3% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $84,132 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.