Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Minnesota make a median of $98,710 a year, or about $47.46 an hour. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $106,598 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $99K actually covers in Minnesota, month by month
About respiratory therapists
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for respiratory therapists, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $82K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Minnesota offers a genuinely strong financial position for respiratory therapists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in Minnesota
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $101K | +2% | 820 |
| Rochester | $99K | -0% | 160 |
| Duluth | $86K | -13% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,005/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is respiratory therapist a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $99K here vs. $82K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Minnesota pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Minnesota?
The median is $98,710 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,060, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $110,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,045/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $106,598 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.