Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in New York make a median of $107,810 a year, or about $51.83 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $109,775 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $108K get you in New York?
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for respiratory therapists, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $82K. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in New York
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $110K | +2% | 7,010 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $107K | -1% | 240 |
| Binghamton | $103K | -4% | 100 |
| Kingston | $95K | -12% | 60 |
| Utica-Rome | $92K | -15% | 90 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $87K | -20% | 510 |
| Syracuse | $86K | -20% | 280 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $85K | -21% | 300 |
| Rochester | $83K | -23% | 410 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,876/month. At HUD’s $1,917/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 New York?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $108K here vs. $82K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
New York pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in New York?
The median is $107,810 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,270, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $131,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,568/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 29.2% 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 York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $109,775 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.