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Respiratory Therapist - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Respiratory Therapist"
How much does a Respiratory Therapist in the federal government get paid? $58,689.93* *Based on the 2021 average.Respiratory Therapist was the 344th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 153 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Office Secretary Health and Human Services hired the most employees titled Respiratory Therapist, with an average salary of $50,910.
Government Respiratory Therapist jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Respiratory Therapist job is GS-1, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-9. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation includes positions which involve the supervision or performance of technical work concerned with administering therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care and life support to patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and abnormalities. The work involves: operating and monitoring respiratory equipment such as continuous and intermittent ventilators, medical gas delivery apparatus, incentive breathing/hyperinflation devices, environmental control systems, and aerosol devices; administering medical gases, humidification, aerosols, and respiratory medications; maintaining clearance of patient's natural and artificial airways; obtaining blood samples and interpreting blood gas data; and providing primary assistance in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Positions in this occupation require a knowledge of the operating characteristics and daily maintenance of respiratory equipment and devices and a practical knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Agencies that have hired a Respiratory Therapist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Office Secretary Health and Human Services | 91 | $50,910.12 |
| Indian Health Service | 34 | $62,070.91 |
| National Institutes of Health | 23 | $82,670.09 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 4 | $65,724.00 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 1 | $72,019.00 |
Respiratory Therapist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Respiratory Therapist is $58,689.93. The highest paid Respiratory Therapist made $122,472 in 2021.
Common Respiratory Therapist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Respiratory Therapist Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 152 |
| GL - Gs Employees In Grades 3 Through 10 Paid A Law Enforcement Officer Special Base Rate | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $20,999.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-1, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $63,734.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-9, Step 10 |
| Category: | Technical and Medical Support |
| Occupation Family: | 0600 MEDICAL, HOSPITAL, DENTAL, AND PUBLIC HEALTH GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-1 Paygrade
GS-1 is the starting paygrade for Respiratory Therapist jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-1 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Health Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Mathematics Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Guide | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Medical Supply Aide and Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Cartographic Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Respiratory Therapist Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Respiratory Therapist was $39,695. Since then, the average pay has increased to $58,690 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0651.