PayByState

Colorado · BLS SOC 29-1126

Respiratory Therapist salary in Colorado

Median $82,640 · Top 10% earn $106,050+ · Roughly 2,296 workers in Colorado. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Colorado median
$82,640
$39.73/hr
Top 10%
$106,050
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$57,410
Entry-level range
Real pay
$80,078
CoL-adjusted (RPP 103.2)

Colorado pays modestly above the U.S. median for respiratory therapists — $82,640 versus the national median of $77,960. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 2,296 respiratory therapists.

What drives respiratory therapist pay in Colorado

Colorado pays close to the U.S. median for respiratory therapists. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Colorado ranks #14 of 50 states

Where Colorado sits in the national distribution for respiratory therapist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Colorado
#13 Minnesota $83,420 +$780
#12 Maryland $85,760 +$3,120
#11 Connecticut $88,090 +$5,450
#14 Colorado (this page) $82,640 —
#15 Rhode Island $81,860 −$780
#16 New Hampshire $81,860 −$780
#17 Vermont $80,300 −$2,340
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Colorado

The typical path is a associate degree + state license; bachelor's preferred for advancement, taking about 24 months. Tuition ranges from $9,000 (community college) to $50,000 (private accelerated). On the Colorado median of $82,640, payback periods are typically 1 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Respiratory Therapist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Colorado selected.

Respiratory Therapist salary in Colorado — FAQ

What is the average respiratory therapist salary in Colorado?
The median respiratory therapist salary in Colorado is $82,640 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $57,410; the top 10% earn $106,050 or more. About 2,296 people work in this role across the state.
How does Colorado respiratory therapist pay compare to the national average?
Colorado's median of $82,640 is $4,680 above the U.S. national median of $77,960. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 103.2), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $80,078.
Is respiratory therapist a good career in Colorado?
On the data: Colorado employs roughly 2,296 respiratory therapists, with a median wage of $82,640 and the top decile clearing $106,050. The role is projected to grow +13% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for respiratory therapists in Colorado?
At the Colorado median of $82,640 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $39.73/hr. The top 10% earn around $50.99/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $27.60/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Colorado-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-1126: Respiratory Therapists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Colorado's RPP is 103.2 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.