Respiratory Therapist.
Austin.
$83,000
median salary, 4% above the national average
$71,000 to $100,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Respiratory Therapist in Austin earns a median of $83,000 in 2026. That is 4% above the national average. The range runs from $71,000 to $100,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays contribute significantly to total earnings. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Respiratory Therapist in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $82,760 for Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 770 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$65,470
25th percentile
$78,310
Median
$82,760
75th percentile
$96,240
90th percentile
$102,990
Workers surveyed
770
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) rather than Respiratory Therapist specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1126Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $75,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$54,000
to $66,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$71,000
to $87,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$91,000
to $108,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$104,000
to $129,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $23,000 to the total package.
Base
$83,000
Equity
$13,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $106,000
How Austin compares.
Austin, TX
$83,000
Cost of living: 3% above average
National Average
$80,000
Austin is $3,000 above
Respiratory Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in Austin.
What you should know.
The Respiratory Therapist landscape in Austin is not what most salary sites will tell you. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays contribute significantly to total earnings. RTs working in ICU or neonatal units earn more than those in general floor care. The RRT credential is expected for most positions, and additional certifications in pulmonary function or transport add incremental pay.
Entry-level RTs earn $52,000 to $58,000 with the RRT credential. Experienced RTs in critical care reach $65,000 to $75,000 after five to seven years. Lead RTs or department supervisors can earn $78,000 to $92,000 with management responsibilities included. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Respiratory therapists receive shift differentials of $3 to $8 per hour, overtime opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. Some hospitals offer certification bonuses and tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees or specialty credentials. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $83,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Respiratory Therapists in Austin runs from $71,000 to $100,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Austin.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Respiratory Therapist Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/respiratory-therapist/austin
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