PayByState

Mississippi · BLS SOC 29-1126

Respiratory Therapist salary in Mississippi

Median $65,490 · Top 10% earn $76,200+ · Roughly 1,216 workers in Mississippi. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Mississippi median
$65,490
$31.49/hr
Top 10%
$76,200
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$45,500
Entry-level range
Real pay
$77,138
CoL-adjusted (RPP 84.9)

Mississippi pays meaningfully below the U.S. median for respiratory therapists — $65,490 versus the national median of $77,960. Mississippi's lower cost of living partially offsets the lower nominal pay, but real purchasing power is still below national average. The state employs roughly 1,216 respiratory therapists.

What drives respiratory therapist pay in Mississippi

Mississippi sits in the bottom quartile of U.S. respiratory therapist pay. Lower nominal wages typically reflect rural-area service delivery, smaller hospital systems, and less-dense union or specialty employer presence — partially offset by a lower cost of living.

Mississippi ranks #51 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Mississippi
#50 Arkansas $66,270 +$780
#49 West Virginia $67,050 +$1,560
#48 Alabama $67,050 +$1,560
#51 Mississippi (this page) $65,490 —
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Mississippi

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 Mississippi median of $65,490, payback periods are typically 1.5 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 Mississippi selected.

Respiratory Therapist salary in Mississippi — FAQ

What is the average respiratory therapist salary in Mississippi?
The median respiratory therapist salary in Mississippi is $65,490 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $45,500; the top 10% earn $76,200 or more. About 1,216 people work in this role across the state.
How does Mississippi respiratory therapist pay compare to the national average?
Mississippi's median of $65,490 is $12,470 below the U.S. national median of $77,960. After adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 84.9), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $77,138.
Is respiratory therapist a good career in Mississippi?
On the data: Mississippi employs roughly 1,216 respiratory therapists, with a median wage of $65,490 and the top decile clearing $76,200. 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 Mississippi?
At the Mississippi median of $65,490 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $31.49/hr. The top 10% earn around $36.63/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $21.88/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Mississippi-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 Mississippi's RPP is 84.9 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.