Nevada · BLS SOC 29-1126

Respiratory Therapist salary in Nevada

Q: What is the average respiratory therapist salary in Nevada?

The median respiratory therapist salary in Nevada is $90,430 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $62,830; the top 10% earn $120,970 or more. About 1,351 people work in this role across the state.

Q: How does Nevada respiratory therapist pay compare to the national average?

Nevada's median of $90,430 is $12,470 above the U.S. national median of $77,960. After adjusting for Nevada's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 99.5), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $90,884.

Q: Where does Nevada pay respiratory therapists the most?

Top-paying metros in Nevada include Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise at $91,100. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.

Median $90,430 · Top 10% earn $120,970+ · Roughly 1,351 workers in Nevada. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Nevada median: $90,430; $43.48/hr
Top 10%: $120,970; 90th percentile
Bottom 10%: $62,830; Entry-level range
Real pay: $90,884; CoL-adjusted (RPP 99.5)

Nevada pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for respiratory therapists — $90,430 versus the national median of $77,960. Real purchasing power is $12,924 above the U.S. average — a clean win. The state employs roughly 1,351 respiratory therapists.

What drives respiratory therapist pay in Nevada

Nevada's RT pay is the second-highest outside California ($90K+ medians in Las Vegas), driven by gaming-industry hospital labor pricing and chronic shortage.

Top-paying metros in Nevada

Nevada-area metropolitan areas with the highest respiratory therapist medians.

Nevada metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank	Metro	Median	Employed
1	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	$91,100	800

Nevada ranks #7 of 50 states

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

Rank	State	Median	vs. Nevada
#6	Massachusetts	$91,990	+$1,560
#5	New York	$91,990	+$1,560
#4	Alaska	$93,550	+$3,120
#7	Nevada (this page)	$90,430	—
#8	New Jersey	$88,870	−$1,560
#9	Oregon	$88,870	−$1,560
#10	Hawaii	$88,090	−$2,340

See all 50 states →

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Education path for Nevada

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 Nevada median of $90,430, payback periods are typically 0.9 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 Nevada selected.

Respiratory Therapist salary in Nevada — FAQ

What is the average respiratory therapist salary in Nevada?

The median respiratory therapist salary in Nevada is $90,430 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $62,830; the top 10% earn $120,970 or more. About 1,351 people work in this role across the state.

How does Nevada respiratory therapist pay compare to the national average?

Nevada's median of $90,430 is $12,470 above the U.S. national median of $77,960. After adjusting for Nevada's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 99.5), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $90,884.

Where does Nevada pay respiratory therapists the most?

Top-paying metros in Nevada include Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise at $91,100. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.

Is respiratory therapist a good career in Nevada?

On the data: Nevada employs roughly 1,351 respiratory therapists, with a median wage of $90,430 and the top decile clearing $120,970. 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 Nevada?

At the Nevada median of $90,430 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $43.48/hr. The top 10% earn around $58.16/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $30.21/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Nevada-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 Nevada's RPP is 99.5 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.