Respiratory therapist salary in California after taxes
The median respiratory therapist in California earns $104,820 a year ($50.40 an hour). After 2026 taxes, that's about $75,155 a year, or $2,890.56 every two weeks.
Take-home pay at each pay level
| Pay level | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Per month | Every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $77,010 | $58,777 | $4,898 | $2,260.63 |
| 25th percentile | $87,750 | $65,114 | $5,426 | $2,504.39 |
| Median | $104,820 | $75,155 | $6,263 | $2,890.56 |
| 75th percentile | $129,010 | $89,239 | $7,437 | $3,432.27 |
| 90th percentile | $145,510 | $98,614 | $8,218 | $3,792.86 |
The 10th percentile means 10% of respiratory therapists in California earn less than this. New hires usually start near the 10th–25th percentile.
Your exact paycheck
Change the salary, add your 401(k), health premiums and W-4 settings:
Respiratory therapist take-home pay in other states
California ranks #6 of 20 of the states we cover for median respiratory therapist take-home pay.
| State | Median gross | Take-home / year |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $107,810 | $78,834 |
| Washington | $101,130 | $78,572 |
| Alaska | $97,950 | $77,738 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 | $76,324 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 | $75,448 |
| California | $104,820 | $75,155 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 | $74,469 |
| Nevada | $85,480 | $68,965 |
| Florida | $81,160 | $65,926 |
| Texas | $79,540 | $64,786 |
| Wyoming | $79,330 | $64,639 |
| Georgia | $83,700 | $64,285 |
| Illinois | $84,090 | $63,970 |
| Virginia | $82,910 | $63,204 |
| Ohio | $79,920 | $63,046 |
| North Carolina | $80,090 | $62,417 |
| Michigan | $79,850 | $61,862 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,490 | $61,638 |
| Tennessee | $72,140 | $59,580 |
| South Dakota | $68,240 | $56,837 |
Questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in California after taxes?
The median respiratory therapist in California earns $104,820 a year ($50.40 an hour) before tax, according to BLS data for May 2025. After 2026 federal and state taxes that's about $75,155 a year, $6,263 a month or $2,890.56 every two weeks for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions.
How many respiratory therapists work in California?
About 18,650, according to the BLS May 2025 estimates.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, statewide, all industries. BLS wages include tips and commissions, not overtime premiums or benefits. Take-home uses 2026 tax rules for a single filer paid every two weeks with W-4 defaults and no pre-tax deductions.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state data)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A and Annual Percentage Method tables
- SSA: 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500)
- California EDD, 2026 Withholding Schedules, Method B (exact calculation)
- California EDD: SDI withholding rate (1.3% in 2026, no wage cap)
More for California: all jobs · paycheck calculator · hourly · salary