Prevailing Wage for Respiratory Therapists
Prevailing wage for Respiratory Therapists is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment Statistics data and divides into four experience levels, from entry-level staff to fully competent practitioners. Whether you're filing as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), or in a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist role, the wage floor varies significantly by worksite city.
See all jobs for Respiratory TherapistsLook up your work address
Entry-level therapists with limited experience who perform routine respiratory care tasks under close supervision. Typically recent graduates or candidates new to clinical settings who have not yet developed independent judgment across complex patient cases.
Qualified therapists with moderate experience who handle a full range of respiratory modalities with general supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Respiratory Therapists, reflecting standard clinical competency in hospital or outpatient settings.
Experienced therapists who manage complex breathing disorders, supervise respiratory therapy technicians, and operate with significant independence. Often found in ICU, NICU, or specialized pulmonary units requiring advanced clinical decision-making and patient management skills.
Fully competent senior therapists who lead departments, set clinical protocols, and mentor staff. Typical in director, lead RT, or respiratory care manager roles where the practitioner holds primary responsibility for a unit's entire modality program.
Prevailing Wage for Respiratory Therapists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for Respiratory Therapists
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Respiratory Therapists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Respiratory Therapists
Verify your license level before filing
Employers sometimes file RRT-credentialed therapists at Level 1 despite the advanced credential. Your RRT or CRT certification, combined with ICU or NICU experience, typically supports a Level 2 or Level 3 prevailing wage determination, not an entry-level floor.
Watch how California metros split the wage floor
San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento metros each produce distinct prevailing wage floors for this occupation. A worksite address difference of one county can shift your L2 wage substantially, so confirm the exact metro on your LCA before signing an offer.
Exclude shift differentials and on-call pay from the floor calculation
Hospital employers often structure compensation with night-shift differentials and on-call stipends. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only the base wage, so shift premiums cannot be used to meet the floor for H-1B or PERM filings.
Find employers who have sponsored Respiratory Therapists before
Migrate Mate shows which hospitals and health systems have historical H-1B or green card sponsorship records for this occupation, so you can focus your job search on employers already familiar with LCA filing requirements for clinical roles.
Jobs for Respiratory Therapists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Respiratory TherapistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1126.00 alongside Respiratory Therapists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist Prevailing Wage
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist Prevailing Wage
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist positions fall under SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Prevailing Wage
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Prevailing Wage
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Prevailing Wage
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) Prevailing Wage
Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) Prevailing Wage
Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) positions fall under SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Respiratory Therapist (RT) Prevailing Wage
Respiratory Therapist (RT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Respiratory Therapist (RT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Staff Respiratory Therapist Prevailing Wage
Staff Respiratory Therapist Prevailing Wage
Staff Respiratory Therapist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Staff Therapist Prevailing Wage
Staff Therapist Prevailing Wage
Staff Therapist positions fall under SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Respiratory Therapists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for SOC 29-1126. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC and must pay at least the prevailing wage corresponding to the level that matches the position's requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level positions with routine tasks and close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified practitioners performing the full scope of respiratory care with general oversight, which is where most sponsored positions are filed. Level 3 reflects experienced therapists with independent judgment in complex settings. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with departmental responsibility. The level is determined by the actual job duties and supervision structure, not just the job title or years of experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role differ so much between cities?
DOL calculates wages separately for each metropolitan statistical area using regional Occupational Employment Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. A respiratory therapist position in San Jose is benchmarked against Bay Area employer pay data, while the same role in a Puerto Rico metro reflects local survey wages. OFLC rules require the employer to use the wage for the worksite listed on the LCA, so the city where you actually work, not where the employer is headquartered, controls the floor.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA certified with a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and location is a compliance violation. USCIS can deny the H-1B petition, and OFLC can investigate and require back-pay. For PERM-based green card cases, a wage below the prevailing wage determination invalidates the application entirely. Candidates should request written confirmation of the offered wage and the wage level used before the LCA is filed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current four-level prevailing wage for SOC 29-1126 in any metropolitan area by entering the occupation code and the worksite's state and county. Cross-reference the result with your offer letter to confirm the employer's filed wage level matches the role's actual duties. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored Respiratory Therapist roles, giving you a shortlist of health systems already active in the LCA process.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Respiratory Therapists right now.
Search Jobs for Respiratory Therapists