HealthcareUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Respiratory Therapist Salary
in Brownsville, TX

Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders including asthma and COPD. Median salary in Brownsville: $54K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$54K
per year
Take-home: $38K

Salary range in Brownsville

Entry level (25th)$44,000
Median (50th)$54,000
Senior (75th)$68,000
Top earner (90th)$84,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Brownsville, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

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What the numbers say for Brownsville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

25% discount vs national median

Respiratory Therapists in Brownsville earn approximately 25% lower than the US national median for this role — a $18,000 discount on annual base salary. Brownsville's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 75 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax — $5K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $5,022 per year at this salary level compared to a California Respiratory Therapist on the same gross pay. A Brownsville Respiratory Therapist would need to earn $59,537 in California to net the same take-home.

Primarily on-site role

Only 5% of Respiratory Therapist positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Brownsville salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.

Key facts for Brownsville

Median salary
$54K
annual
Take-home pay
$38K
after fed/state tax
COL index
75
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$850
per month
YoY growth
+3.8%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Brownsville Respiratory Therapist to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $54K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Brownsville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Respiratory Therapist salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$45K$49K$53K$57K$61K201920212023202520272029
2026
$55K
projected
2027
$57K
projected
2028
$58K
projected
2029
$60K
projected
2030
$61K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$54,000+$0
2028 projected$54,000+$0
2029 projected$54,000+$0
2030 projected$54,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Respiratory Therapist Salary in Brownsville, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Brownsville, TX is $54,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Brownsville–TX 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.

Salary range for Respiratory Therapist in Brownsville

Entry-level Respiratory Therapists in Brownsville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $44,000 and $54,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $54,000 to $68,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $68,000 to $84,000 or more.

Cost of living in Brownsville for Respiratory Therapists

Brownsville has a cost of living index of 75 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 25% further in Brownsville than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax — giving Brownsville-based Respiratory Therapists an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Respiratory Therapist

Associate's or Bachelor's in Respiratory Therapy; RRT credential. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Respiratory Therapist salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Brownsville (current)$54K75
Houston$78K91
San Antonio$73K87
Dallas$79K96
Austin$76K110
Fort Worth$76K93