California respiratory therapist pay by percentile
Half of California's respiratory therapists earn more than $104,820; the middle half earn $87,750 to $129,010 and the top 10% over $145,510.[onet_rt] BLS counted 18,650 RT jobs in California in May 2025, 13.3% of all U.S. respiratory therapists.[oews_api]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,010 | $37.02 | $63,007 |
| 25th | $87,750 | $42.19 | $70,562 |
| Median (50th) | $104,820 | $50.39 | $82,571 |
| 75th | $129,010 | $62.02 | $99,444 |
| 90th | $145,510 | $69.96 | $110,722 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Pay per 12-hour shift in California
At the California median hourly rate a 12-hour shift pays about $605 before differentials, against $475 at the national median.[onet_rt] California also requires daily overtime: hours worked beyond 8 in a workday, unless the employer has a valid alternative workweek schedule.[ca_ot] Many hospital 12-hour schedules are set up under those alternative-workweek rules, so check how your offer pays hours 9 to 12.
| Percentile | Hourly | Per 12-h shift | 36 h/week, yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37.02 | $444 | $69,309 |
| 25th | $42.19 | $506 | $78,975 |
| Median | $50.39 | $605 | $94,338 |
| 75th | $62.02 | $744 | $116,109 |
| 90th | $69.96 | $839 | $130,959 |
Respiratory therapist salary by California metro area
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays respiratory therapists the most in California at a median of $149,680, and Visalia, CA the least at $82,030.[onet_rt]
| Area | Median | Hourly | Per 12-h shift | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $149,680 | $71.96 | $864 | $178,580 |
| 2. Vallejo, CA | $136,200 | $65.48 | $786 | $157,560 |
| 3. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $134,880 | $64.85 | $778 | $161,250 |
| 4. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $134,430 | $64.63 | $776 | $149,450 |
| 5. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,220 | $62.61 | $751 | $158,100 |
| 6. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $123,220 | $59.24 | $711 | $138,750 |
| 7. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $112,430 | $54.05 | $649 | $131,010 |
| 8. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,600 | $52.21 | $627 | $134,900 |
| 9. North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $105,070 | $50.51 | $606 | $132,560 |
| 10. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $105,040 | $50.50 | $606 | $131,440 |
| 11. Napa, CA | $104,670 | $50.32 | $604 | $171,760 |
| 12. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,640 | $50.31 | $604 | $130,790 |
| 13. Modesto, CA | $103,870 | $49.94 | $599 | $134,280 |
| 14. Redding, CA | $103,830 | $49.92 | $599 | $130,830 |
| 15. Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,760 | $49.40 | $593 | $125,770 |
| 16. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,250 | $49.16 | $590 | $130,710 |
| 17. Stockton-Lodi, CA | $102,050 | $49.06 | $589 | $138,180 |
| 18. Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $101,860 | $48.97 | $588 | $126,220 |
| 19. Merced, CA | $101,810 | $48.95 | $587 | $137,400 |
| 20. North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $100,650 | $48.39 | $581 | $132,340 |
| 21. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,480 | $48.31 | $580 | $128,730 |
| 22. Fresno, CA | $83,340 | $40.07 | $481 | $109,060 |
| 23. Visalia, CA | $82,030 | $39.44 | $473 | $97,450 |
Take-home pay for a California RT
A single RT working three 12-hour shifts at the California median hourly rate earns about $94,338 a year and keeps $75,197 after 2026 federal tax, Social Security and Medicare, before California income tax.[irs][ssa]
| Effective CA rate | Take-home per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $75,197 | $6,266 |
| 4% | $71,423 | $5,952 |
| 6% | $69,537 | $5,795 |
| 8% | $67,650 | $5,637 |
California respiratory care practitioner (RCP) license
The Respiratory Care Board of California issues the respiratory care practitioner (RCP) license. You need at least an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program and the NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential; a CRT alone qualifies only if it was earned before January 1, 2015. Every applicant also completes an RCB-approved law and professional ethics course, and the application fee is $300.[rcb]
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education | Associate degree or higher from a CoARC-accredited program |
| Credential | NBRC RRT (CRT only if earned before Jan 1, 2015); from 2027, the RT exam at the high cut score |
| Law and ethics course | RCB-approved course before licensure |
| Application fee | $300 (plus $49 fingerprint processing for out-of-state fingerprint cards) |
The national credential path (CoARC program, NBRC exams) is on how to become a respiratory therapist; program types and costs are on respiratory therapy school; every state is ranked on respiratory therapist salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in California per hour?
$50.39 at the state median (BLS, May 2025); $37.02 at the 10th percentile and $69.96 at the 90th.
Where do respiratory therapists make the most in California?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($149,680 median), then Vallejo, CA and Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
Is California the highest-paying state for respiratory therapists?
It ranks 3rd of 51. District of Columbia has the highest median at $111,950.
How much does a California RT make per shift?
About $605 for 12 hours at the median hourly rate, before shift differentials and overtime.
Sources
- Local Wages: 29-1126.00 Respiratory Therapists (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2
- Overtime FAQ (over eight hours in a workday; alternative workweek schedules)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500 for 2026)
- Application requirements for a respiratory care practitioner license (RRT required; $300 fee)