Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in New Mexico make a median of $68,870 a year, or about $33.11 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $74,006 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $69K actually covers in New Mexico, month by month
About respiratory therapists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for respiratory therapists in New Mexico runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $82K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, New Mexico can be a reasonable trade-off for respiratory therapists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in New Mexico
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $69K | +0% | 500 |
| Farmington | $68K | -2% | 50 |
| Las Cruces | $63K | -9% | 70 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when New Mexico 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 New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,150/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is respiratory therapist a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $69K here vs. $82K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
New Mexico pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in New Mexico?
The median is $68,870 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,990, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $91,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 24.7% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $74,006 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.