Respiratory Therapist.
Kansas City.
$75,000
median salary, 6% below the national average
$64,000 to $90,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Kansas City is $75,000, 6% below the national average. Entry level starts near $64,000. Experienced professionals push past $90,000. Kansas City straddles Missouri and Kansas, creating a unique dual state job market with strong logistics, tech, and agriculture technology sectors. That spread is your negotiation window. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $79,140 for Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan area, based on 1,190 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$63,100
25th percentile
$66,090
Median
$79,140
75th percentile
$90,100
90th percentile
$97,140
Workers surveyed
1,190
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126) rather than Respiratory Therapist specifically. The Kansas Cityrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1126Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $67,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$49,000
to $60,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$64,000
to $79,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$83,000
to $98,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$94,000
to $116,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $21,000 to the total package.
Base
$75,000
Equity
$12,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $96,000
How Kansas City compares.
Kansas City, MO
$75,000
Cost of living: 7% below average
National Average
$80,000
Kansas City is $5,000 below
Respiratory Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in Kansas City.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Respiratory Therapist roles in Kansas City, here is what you are walking into. Kansas City straddles Missouri and Kansas, creating a unique dual state job market with strong logistics, tech, and agriculture technology sectors. The metro's central location has made it a hub for distribution centers and supply chain companies. Cerner's healthcare IT presence and a growing startup scene have boosted demand for technology professionals. Shift differentials for nights, weekends, and holidays contribute significantly to total earnings. RTs working in ICU or neonatal units earn more than those in general floor care. The RRT credential is expected for most positions, and additional certifications in pulmonary function or transport add incremental pay.
Entry-level RTs earn $52,000 to $58,000 with the RRT credential. Experienced RTs in critical care reach $65,000 to $75,000 after five to seven years. Lead RTs or department supervisors can earn $78,000 to $92,000 with management responsibilities included. In Kansas City, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Respiratory therapists receive shift differentials of $3 to $8 per hour, overtime opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. Some hospitals offer certification bonuses and tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees or specialty credentials. And on the tax side: missouri's top income tax rate is about 4.8%, and Kansas City adds a 1% earnings tax. Workers living in Kansas face that state's rates instead. Choose your side of the state line carefully. When someone quotes you $75,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate which side of the state line you will be based on. Your tax situation differs meaningfully between Missouri and Kansas, and some employers offer flexibility on office location. The range for Respiratory Therapists in Kansas City runs from $64,000 to $90,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Radiologic Technologist in Kansas City earns $73,000 (3% less)
- The highest-paying role in Kansas City is CTO at $282,000
Common questions.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Kansas City.
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