SOC 29-1126 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Respiratory Therapists — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Detroit, MI is $80,790 per year, close to the national median of $82,280 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Detroit, MI is $80,790 per year, close to the national median of $82,280 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $65,850 at the tenth percentile to more than $90,950 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $77,410 to $85,970.
Employment stands at 1,910, or 1.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Battle Creek leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $81,440. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 188th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,850 | −20.0% |
| 25th | $77,410 | −5.9% |
| Median (50th) | $80,790 | −1.8% |
| 75th | $85,970 | +4.5% |
| 90th | $90,950 | +10.5% |
| Mean | $80,360 | −2.3% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $81,440 | 60 | |
| 2 | Monroe | $81,290 | 30 | |
| 3 | Ann Arbor | $79,850 | 390 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $78,530 | 160 | |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | $78,070 | 690 | |
| 6 | Flint | $77,760 | 150 | |
| 7 | Kalamazoo | $76,220 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $80,790 goes as far as $83,981 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,790as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,981US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,790 a year, 1.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,850 to $90,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,910 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Battle Creek, at $81,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $80,790, or $38.84 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 Detroit, MI is 1.8% lower. 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 Detroit, MI earns more than $90,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,850 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 Battle Creek, at $81,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,910 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. 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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