Respiratory Therapist salary in California
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A respiratory therapist in California earns a median of $104,820 a year ($50.39/hour equivalent), 27.4% above the national median of $82,280. California ranks #3 of 51 states. About 18,650 people do this job in California.
Take-home pay in California
At the California median, a single filer keeps about $75,705 a year after federal, FICA and California taxes — $2,912 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the California paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $4,031.54
- Federal income tax
- −$547.32
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$249.96
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$58.46
- California income tax
- −$211.66
- CA SDI
- −$52.41
- Take-home pay
- $2,911.73
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $104,820
- Federal
- $14,230
- FICA
- $8,019
- State + local
- $6,866
- Net
- $75,705
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 9.3%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How California compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | District of Columbia | $111,950 |
| #2 | New York | $107,810 |
| #3 | California | $104,820 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $102,170 |
| #5 | Washington | $101,130 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $68,240 |
| #50 | Alabama | $66,150 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $63,270 |
See the national respiratory therapist salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in California?
The median salary is $104,820 a year and the average is $109,440 (BLS May 2025).
Is California a good state for respiratory therapists?
California ranks #3 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 27% above the national median of $82,280.
What is $104,820 after taxes in California?
About $75,705 a year ($2,912 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.