Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders including asthma and COPD. Median salary in Bethesda: $90K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Bethesda, Maryland. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Respiratory Therapists in Bethesda earn approximately 25% higher than the US national median for this role — a $18,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Bethesda's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Bethesda's cost-of-living index (165), the median Respiratory Therapist salary buys the equivalent of $54,545 in a US-average-cost city. That's $17,455 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Bethesda ($2,800/mo) consumes approximately 58% of an after-tax median Respiratory Therapist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($112K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $90K by 2030.
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The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Bethesda, MD is $90,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Bethesda–MD metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Respiratory Therapists in Bethesda with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $72,000 and $90,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $90,000 to $112,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $112,000 to $140,000 or more.
Bethesda has a cost of living index of 165 compared to the US national average of 100. Bethesda's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Maryland has a 5.75% state income tax rate.
Associate's or Bachelor's in Respiratory Therapy; RRT credential. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.