Respiratory Therapist.
Columbus.
$77,000
median salary, 4% below the national average
$65,000 to $92,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Respiratory Therapist offer in Columbus, OH, here is the reality: $65,000 to $92,000, with $77,000 as the midpoint. 4% below the national average. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays contribute significantly to total earnings. Do not accept the first number. 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 Columbus, 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 $81,860 for Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) in the Columbus, OH metropolitan area, based on 1,220 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$68,300
25th percentile
$79,670
Median
$81,860
75th percentile
$96,070
90th percentile
$98,700
Workers surveyed
1,220
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 Columbus 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 $69,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$50,000
to $62,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$65,000
to $81,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$85,000
to $100,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$96,000
to $119,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $22,000 to the total package.
Base
$77,000
Equity
$12,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $99,000
How Columbus compares.
Columbus, OH
$77,000
Cost of living: 7% below average
National Average
$80,000
Columbus is $3,000 below
Respiratory Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in Columbus.
What you should know.
The Respiratory Therapist landscape in Columbus is not what most salary sites will tell you. Columbus is Ohio's largest city and a growing technology and logistics hub, home to companies like Nationwide Insurance and a major Intel semiconductor fab under construction. The city's large university system and low cost of living attract both startups and corporate expansions. Tech salaries have been climbing as national employers establish Midwest offices. 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 Columbus, 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: ohio's income tax tops out around 3.5%, and Columbus adds a city income tax of 2.5%. The combined rate is moderate, but the city tax applies to all who work within city limits. When someone quotes you $77,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention Intel's new fab investment when negotiating. The semiconductor megaproject is driving salaries upward across the entire Columbus tech and engineering market. The range for Respiratory Therapists in Columbus runs from $65,000 to $92,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- A Logistics Coordinator in Columbus earns $78,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Columbus is CTO at $285,000
Common questions.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Columbus.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Respiratory Therapist Salary in Columbus, OH." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/respiratory-therapist/columbus
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