California Respiratory Therapist Schools and Salary

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Get Started as a Respiratory Therapist in California

If you are hoping to become a respiratory therapist in California (CA) then you will be pleased to learn that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of respiratory therapists will grow nationwide by 19% from 2019 to 2029.

To become a respiratory therapist in California you will need to graduate from an accredited school and obtain a license before you can begin working there.

Certification is optional but provides assurances as to an individuals skills and competencies.

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Top Respiratory Therapist Schools in California

SchoolAreaDegreeLearn More
American Career College - AnaheimAnaheimAOS DegreeLearn More
American Career College - OntarioOntarioAOS DegreeLearn More
American River CollegeSacramentoAS DegreeLearn More
Antelope Valley CollegeLancasterAS DegreeLearn More
Butte CollegeOrovilleAS Degree*
California College San DiegoSan DiegoAS DegreeLearn More
Carrington CollegePleasant HillAS DegreeLearn More
Concorde Career College - Garden GroveGarden GroveAS DegreeLearn More
Concorde Career College - North HollywoodHollywoodAAS DegreeLearn More
Concorde Career College - San BernardinoSan BernardinoAS DegreeLearn More
Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipaAS DegreeLearn More
East Los Angeles College / Santa MonicaMonterey ParkAS DegreeLearn More
El Camino Community CollegeTorranceAS DegreeLearn More
Foothill CollegeLost Altos HillsAS DegreeLearn More
Fresno City CollegeFresnoAS DegreeLearn More
Grossmont CollegeEl CajonAS DegreeLearn More
Hartnell CollegeSalinasAS DegreeLearn More
Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley GlenAS DegreeLearn More
Modesto Junior CollegeModestoAS DegreeLearn More
Mt. San Antonio CollegeWalnutAS DegreeLearn More
Napa Valley CollegeNapaAS DegreeLearn More
Ohlone CollegeNewarAS DegreeLearn More
Orange Coast CollegeCosta MesaAS DegreeLearn More
Pima Medical Institute - Chula VistaChula VistaAS DegreeLearn More
Platt College - AlhambraAlhambraAS DegreeLearn More
Platt College - OntarioOntarioAS DegreeLearn More
San Joaquin Valley College - BakersfieldBakersfieldAS DegreeLearn More
San Joaquin Valley College - OntarioOntarioAS DegreeLearn More
San Joaquin Valley College - Rancho CordovaCordovaAS DegreeLearn More
San Joaquin Valley College - TemeculaTemeculaAS DegreeLearn More
San Joaquin Valley College - VisaliaVisaliaAS DegreeLearn More
Simi Valley Adult School/Excelsior CollegeSim ValleyAS DegreeLearn More
Skyline CollegeSan BrunoAS DegreeLearn More
Victor Valley Community CollegeVictorvilleAS DegreeLearn More

Respiratory therapist schools in California are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC). There are 35 accredited schools offering respiratory therapy programs in California.

Most schools in California will offer a choice between an associates degree (2 years) or a bachelors degree (4 years). An associates degree will get you started in your career whilst a bachelors degree will open up more career doors such as supervisory and management roles.

Respiratory therapist certification is optional in California.

Learn more: Choosing a respiratory therapist program

California Respiratory License

Once you have graduated from an accredited program it is required by California law that you obtain a license to work as a respiratory therapist there. The Respiratory Care Board Of California governs the licensing of respiratory therapists in California.

You can contact the Board directly using the details below:

Phone: 916.999.2190
Website: rcb.ca.gov

Learn more: Steps to become a respiratory therapist


Respiratory Therapist Salary in California

Average Salary$83,920
Hourly Wage$40.35
Top 10%$116,910
Bottom 10%$57,670
Employed16,650

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2019), the average respiratory therapist salary in California is $83,920. This is 31% greater than the national average.

This equates to an average hourly wage of $40.35.

Salary levels for respiratory therapists in California have grown by 6%, or $4,550, between 2015 and 2019.

Salary Range

  • The top 10% of earners in the profession in California have an average salary of $116,910
  • The lower 10% and entry level respiratory therapists earned an average salary of $57,670
  • Respiratory therapists working in Salinas earned the highest average salary in the state at $101,520
  • Those working in Fresno have the lowest average salary level at $60,400.
Metro AreaSalaryNumberTop 10%Bottom 10%
Bakersfield$75,240280$100,180$55,860
Chico$82,100140$102,020$64,850
Fresno$60,400380$103,370$42,280
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$79,9106,640$103,860$58,470
Modesto$90,810190$121,250$66,540
Napa$84,47060$118,040$59,220
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$88,120200$116,960$65,870
Redding$89,530110$124,540$60,100
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$75,8801,800$105,890$54,060
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade$98,810930$126,870$71,980
Salinas$101,52090$128,880$74,480
San Diego-Carlsbad$82,6501,430$104,950$59,670
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward$97,9501,990$126,790$69,030
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$97,370690$131,460$64,470
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande$85,480100$111,690$60,370
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$93,260110$123,100$69,420
Santa Rosa$79,680160$101,700$60,630
Stockton-Lodi$77,630250$114,470$46,090
Vallejo-Fairfield$94,420210$126,550$55,920
Visalia-Porterville$70,850110$91,870$53,570
Yuba City$89,47090$104,670$68,090

Respiratory Therapist Employment in California

There are currently 16,650 people employed as respiratory therapists in California. This number has grown by 13%, or 1,960 respiratory therapy positions, between 2015 and 2019.

The highest number of respiratory therapy jobs in California are in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area.

The table below compares respiratory therapy salary and employment with similar healthcare careers in California. Whilst the salary levels for respiratory therapists in the state are slightly lower than those for comparable careers the number of respiratory therapy roles in the state fairs strongly.

CareerSalaryEmployment
Respiratory Therapist$83,92016,650
Physical Therapist$99,92021,730
Occupational Therapist$98,45010,060
Speech & Language Therapist$92,74014,980

What next?

We hope this guide helps you get started on your path towards becoming a respiratory therapist in California. You might also be interested in the following related pages:

  • Online classes

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