Hire a Respiratory Therapist in San Francisco, CA

Travel contracts are bidding for the same therapists you are. An RRT who runs the ICU alone belongs at this metro's upper quarter. In San Francisco, the May 2025 median is about $130.2K, 24% over the California median.

What to offer

A hospital that copies a national midpoint will lose therapists to travel contracts. Use this metro's median for someone new, and the 75th for someone who runs the ICU alone.

Percentile	Metro	CA	U.S.
25th	$106,330	$87,750	$74,520
Median	$130,220	$104,820	$82,280
75th	$148,650	$129,010	$98,730

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How hard this is to fill

Hiring difficulty

2.8

Metro employment

2,010

National growth, 2025 to 2035

8.5%

National openings a year

8.6 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

For one manager

Say the unit, the shift, and the ventilator mix you need covered. Ask about the RRT credential and how much critical care time the person has.

License and training

Every state except Alaska licenses respiratory therapists. Most employers want the NBRC's CRT or RRT credential. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, respiratory therapists

Nearby metros

Vallejo, CA · 24 miles
Napa, CA · 36 miles
San Jose, CA · 47 miles
Santa Rosa, CA · 49 miles

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

Get the local report

Questions

What do respiratory therapists earn in San Francisco, CA?

In San Francisco, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $130.2K, 58% over the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $106.3K to $148.7K.

Who hires respiratory therapists in San Francisco?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in San Francisco, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Sutter Bay Hospitals, San Mateo Medical Center.

Do I need a license to work as an RT in California?

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the California board before you start in San Francisco.

What should a hospital in San Francisco weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. San Francisco has slightly fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 24% over the California median.