State comparison · 2025
Respiratory Therapists salary: California vs Kentucky
Respiratory Therapists in California earn a median of $104,820. In Kentucky, $72,750. After cost-of-living, the gap is 17.4% — not 44.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+44.1%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+17.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Respiratory Therapists
- Median
- $104,820
- p25
- $87,750
- p75
- $129,010
- p10
- $77,010
- p90
- $145,510
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
Kentucky
Respiratory Therapists
- Median
- $72,750
- p25
- $63,110
- p75
- $79,730
- p10
- $58,330
- p90
- $92,540
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +33%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.