Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Tennessee make a median of $72,140 a year, or about $34.68 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $80,352 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Tennessee?
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for respiratory therapists in Tennessee runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $82K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for respiratory therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | $79K | +10% | 60 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $79K | +9% | 1,070 |
| Chattanooga | $74K | +3% | 370 |
| Memphis | $66K | -8% | 670 |
| Jackson | $65K | -9% | 110 |
| Knoxville | $65K | -10% | 460 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $63K | -13% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track respiratory therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,472/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $72K here vs. $82K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Tennessee pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Tennessee?
The median is $72,140 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,860, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $88,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,928/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $80,352 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.