SOC 29-1126 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Respiratory Therapists — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 6 metro areas compared
At $87,060, median pay for Respiratory Therapists in Chicago, IL tracks the national median of $82,280 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $87,060, median pay for Respiratory Therapists in Chicago, IL tracks the national median of $82,280 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $81,080 and $96,830. The lowest tenth earn under $74,560, while the highest tenth earn more than $100,100.
Employment stands at 3,620, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Kankakee leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $84,490. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 190th of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,560 | −9.4% |
| 25th | $81,080 | −1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $87,060 | +5.8% |
| 75th | $96,830 | +17.7% |
| 90th | $100,100 | +21.7% |
| Mean | $88,400 | +7.4% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kankakee | $84,490 | 60 | |
| 2 | Springfield | $78,340 | 140 | |
| 3 | Peoria | $77,660 | 210 | |
| 4 | Rockford | $77,640 | 160 | |
| 5 | Bloomington | $75,490 | 70 | |
| 6 | Champaign | $74,660 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $87,060 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$87,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$87,060US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $87,060 a year, 5.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $74,560 to $100,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,620 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kankakee, at $84,490.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $87,060, or $41.86 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $82,280, so pay in Chicago, IL is 5.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $100,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $74,560 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kankakee, at $84,490 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,620 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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