Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Maryland make a median of $88,960 a year, or about $42.77 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $90,077 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $89K get you in Maryland?
About respiratory therapists
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What this looks like in Maryland
Respiratory therapists pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $89K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) 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, Maryland
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in Maryland
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $88K | -1% | 960 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $74K | -16% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track respiratory therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,173/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $89K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Maryland pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Maryland?
The median is $88,960 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,550, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $106,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,576/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 32.2% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $90,077 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.