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Occupational Therapist vs Respiratory Therapist

In 2025, the median salary for Respiratory Therapist was $5,727 (5.2%) higher than for Occupational Therapist: $115,993 against $110,266. Occupational Therapist had 1,067 people on the list, Respiratory Therapist 359.

At a glance

Occupational TherapistRespiratory Therapist
People on the 2025 list1,067359
Median salary$110,266$115,993
Middle half$106,568–$114,486$107,724–$127,811
Highest salary$136,023$312,448
Total salaries$117,875,708$43,817,781
People, change+17.0% vs 2024+33.5% vs 2024
Median, change+1.7% vs 2024+5.0% vs 2024

Median salary by year

Show as a table
YearOccupational TherapistRespiratory Therapist
2008$106,756
2009$106,078
2012$109,728$102,338
2013$102,555
2014$105,731
2015$102,554$102,857
2016$101,506
2017$101,007$104,558
2018$101,946$102,320
2019$100,372$101,652
2020$104,041$105,282
2021$102,314$105,843
2022$102,361$106,305
2023$108,350$110,258
2024$108,473$110,472
2025$110,266$115,993

People on the list by year

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YearOccupational TherapistRespiratory Therapist
20086
20097
2012137
20135
20145
201567
20169
201769
2018923
20191130
202039126
20216092
202275119
2023673220
2024912269
20251,067359

Highest paid in 2025

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Questions and answers

Which pays more, Occupational Therapist or Respiratory Therapist?

By median salary in 2025, Respiratory Therapist: $115,993 against $110,266.

Which has more people on the list?

Occupational Therapist: 1,067 against 359 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2012?

In 2012 the median for Occupational Therapist was $109,728 and for Respiratory Therapist $102,338, a gap of $7,390; in 2025 the gap was $5,727.

What do these figures cover?

Only people paid $100,000 or more are on the list, so medians and counts describe them, not everyone with each title.

What does “salary paid” include?

What the employer paid in the calendar year, so it can include overtime, retroactive pay, vacation payouts, severance or a partial year. Taxable benefits are listed separately. How the lists work