SOC 29-1126 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Respiratory Therapists — Minnesota
Minnesota · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Minnesota is $98,710 per year, 20.0% above the national median of $82,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow much faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +12.1%
- Openings per year
- 8,800
- Typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Minnesota.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
The median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Minnesota is $98,710 per year, 20.0% above the national median of $82,280. Half of workers earn between $86,440 and $103,010. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $79,060 and the ninetieth at $110,050.
The area has 1,250 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Minnesota ranks number 8th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Minneapolis records the highest median at $100,920. Of the 721 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 136th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,060 | −3.9% |
| 25th | $86,440 | +5.1% |
| Median (50th) | $98,710 | +20.0% |
| 75th | $103,010 | +25.2% |
| 90th | $110,050 | +33.8% |
| Mean | $96,890 | +17.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $100,920 | 820 | |
| 2 | Rochester | $98,700 | 160 | |
| 3 | Duluth | $85,700 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Minnesota sit close to the national average, so $98,710 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$98,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$100,112US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $98,710 a year, 20.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $79,060 to $110,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,250 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Minneapolis, at $100,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Minnesota?
The median annual wage is $98,710, or $47.46 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 Minnesota is 20.0% 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 Minnesota earns more than $110,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $79,060 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 Minneapolis, at $100,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,250 jobs in this occupation in Minnesota. 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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