Respiratory Therapist.
San Francisco.
$104,000
median salary, 30% above the national average
$88,000 to $124,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Respiratory Therapist pay in San Francisco at $104,000, within a range of $88,000 to $124,000. That is 30% above the national average. San Francisco is the epicenter of venture capital and startup innovation, consistently producing the highest tech salaries in the nation. 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 San Francisco, 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 $130,220 for Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, based on 2,010 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$95,450
25th percentile
$106,330
Median
$130,220
75th percentile
$148,650
90th percentile
$158,100
Workers surveyed
2,010
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 San Francisco 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 $93,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$68,000
to $83,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$88,000
to $109,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$114,000
to $135,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$130,000
to $161,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $29,000 to the total package.
Base
$104,000
Equity
$17,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $133,000
How San Francisco compares.
San Francisco, CA
$104,000
Cost of living: 35% above average
National Average
$80,000
San Francisco is $24,000 above
Respiratory Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in San Francisco.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Respiratory Therapist offer in San Francisco, understand the terrain. San Francisco is the epicenter of venture capital and startup innovation, consistently producing the highest tech salaries in the nation. The city's concentration of AI labs, SaaS companies, and fintech firms creates intense competition for talent. Despite remote work trends, SF still commands the steepest salary premiums for engineering and product roles. 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 San Francisco, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 35% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: california's top marginal state income tax rate is 13.3%, the highest in the U.S. San Francisco has no additional city income tax, but overall tax burden remains steep. When someone quotes you $104,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage competing offers aggressively. SF employers expect candidates to shop around, and matching or beating a rival offer is standard practice here. The range for Respiratory Therapists in San Francisco runs from $88,000 to $124,000. 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 Web Developer in San Francisco earns $103,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in San Francisco is CTO at $401,000
Common questions.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in San Francisco.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Respiratory Therapists in San Francisco.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Respiratory Therapist Salary in San Francisco, CA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/respiratory-therapist/san-francisco
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