New York · BLS SOC 29-1126

Respiratory Therapist salary in New York

Q: What is the average respiratory therapist salary in New York?

The median respiratory therapist salary in New York is $91,990 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $63,910; the top 10% earn $124,060 or more. About 8,645 people work in this role across the state.

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

New York's median of $91,990 is $14,030 above the U.S. national median of $77,960. After adjusting for New York's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 116.0), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $79,302.

Q: Where does New York pay respiratory therapists the most?

Top-paying metros in New York include New York-Newark-Jersey City at $95,400. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.

Median $91,990 · Top 10% earn $124,060+ · Roughly 8,645 workers in New York. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

New York median: $91,990; $44.23/hr
Top 10%: $124,060; 90th percentile
Bottom 10%: $63,910; Entry-level range
Real pay: $79,302; CoL-adjusted (RPP 116.0)

New York pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for respiratory therapists — $91,990 versus the national median of $77,960. After adjusting for New York's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $1,342 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 8,645 respiratory therapists.

What drives respiratory therapist pay in New York

New York City teaching hospitals (NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, NYU) pay the highest NY RT wages. Union representation at HSS, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and Bellevue keeps wage floors high.

Top-paying metros in New York

New York-area metropolitan areas with the highest respiratory therapist medians.

New York metros

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

Rank	Metro	Median	Employed
1	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$95,400	5,300

New York ranks #5 of 50 states

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

Rank	State	Median	vs. New York
#4	Alaska	$93,550	+$1,560
#3	District of Columbia	$94,330	+$2,340
#2	Washington	$95,110	+$3,120
#5	New York (this page)	$91,990	—
#7	Nevada	$90,430	−$1,560
#8	New Jersey	$88,870	−$3,120
#9	Oregon	$88,870	−$3,120

See all 50 states →

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Education path for New York

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 New York median of $91,990, payback periods are typically 0.8 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 New York selected.

Respiratory Therapist salary in New York — FAQ

What is the average respiratory therapist salary in New York?

The median respiratory therapist salary in New York is $91,990 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $63,910; the top 10% earn $124,060 or more. About 8,645 people work in this role across the state.

How does New York respiratory therapist pay compare to the national average?

New York's median of $91,990 is $14,030 above the U.S. national median of $77,960. After adjusting for New York's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 116.0), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $79,302.

Where does New York pay respiratory therapists the most?

Top-paying metros in New York include New York-Newark-Jersey City at $95,400. 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 New York?

On the data: New York employs roughly 8,645 respiratory therapists, with a median wage of $91,990 and the top decile clearing $124,060. 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 New York?

At the New York median of $91,990 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $44.23/hr. The top 10% earn around $59.64/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $30.73/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

New York-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 New York's RPP is 116.0 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.