Travel Respiratory Therapist Salary in 2026
Travel respiratory therapists earn an average of $2,150 per week in 2026 — a typical range of $1,800–$3,600/week depending on setting, state, and season. Over 46 working weeks, that's roughly $98,900 per year, with a meaningful share arriving as tax-free stipends.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · allied travel pay estimates, FY2026 GSA rates
Last Financially Reviewed:
Reviewed by Michael Torres, CPA, EA, Travel Nurse Tax Specialist
$2,150
Avg Weekly Package
$54/hr
Avg Blended Hourly
$3,600
Crisis/PICU Top End
High
2026 Demand
The calculator's stipend and tax math applies to RT contracts identically — enter your taxable rate and stipends.
RT Pay by Setting
| Setting | vs Baseline | What Drives It |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ICU / Critical Care | baseline | Vent management, ABGs, code response |
| NICU | +10-15% | Neonatal vents, surfactant, transport teams |
| PICU | +15-20% | Highest RT premium in 2026; chronically short |
| ER / Trauma | +5-10% | RSI support, BiPAP-heavy flu seasons |
| Long-term acute care (LTACH) | -5-10% | Vent weaning focus, steadier pace |
Top-Paying States for Travel RTs
State tax and stipend margins change the take-home ranking — the tax column links to each state's full cost breakdown from our RN dataset, which applies to RT contracts equally.
California
13.3% state tax
~$2,750/wk
New York
10.9% state tax
~$2,500/wk
Massachusetts
5% state tax
~$2,450/wk
Washington
No state income tax
~$2,400/wk
Alaska
No state income tax
~$2,350/wk
Oregon
9.9% state tax
~$2,300/wk
Nevada
No state income tax
~$2,250/wk
Texas
No state income tax
~$2,150/wk
Arizona
2.5% state tax
~$2,100/wk
Florida
No state income tax
~$2,050/wk
Requirements to Travel as an RT
- • RRT (preferred) or CRT credential from the NBRC
- • State RT license for each work state (no nationwide compact)
- • BLS required; ACLS/NRP/PALS by setting
- • 1-2 years acute care experience; NICU/PICU need specific unit time
No compact license exists for RTs, so state licensing is your timeline bottleneck — the process mirrors what nurses go through in non-compact states. The become-a-traveler playbook (agencies, submission profiles, contract evaluation) applies step-for-step to RTs.
Your Stipends Follow the Same GSA Rules as Nurses'
Housing and meal stipends on RT contracts are capped by the GSA per diem rate for the assignment ZIP and require a qualifying tax home — identical to RN contracts. That means the biggest earnings lever for a travel RT is market selection: a contract in a stipend-surplus city puts the housing difference in your pocket tax-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel respiratory therapists make in 2026?
Travel respiratory therapists average about $2,150 per week ($54/hour blended) in 2026, with typical packages ranging $1,800–$3,600/week. Working 46 weeks, that's roughly $98,900 per year. PICU and NICU contracts and winter respiratory season sit at the top of the range.
Do travel RTs get the same tax-free stipends as travel nurses?
Yes — stipend rules are profession-agnostic. Housing and meal stipends are capped by the same GSA per diem rates for the assignment ZIP code, and require the same tax home (duplicated expenses) to stay tax-free. An RT and an RN on contract in the same city have identical stipend ceilings.
Which settings pay travel respiratory therapists the most?
PICU carries the highest premium in 2026 (+15–20% over adult ICU baseline), followed by NICU (+10–15%). ER contracts run +5–10% during respiratory season. LTACH vent-weaning roles typically pay slightly below acute baseline but offer steadier schedules.
When is demand highest for travel respiratory therapists?
Winter respiratory season (December–February) is the RT market's crisis window — flu, RSV, and pneumonia drive vent counts up and crisis-rate contracts appear, often 15–25% above baseline. Flexible winter availability is the single biggest earnings lever for travel RTs.
Do respiratory therapists have a compact license like nurses?
No — there is no RT equivalent of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so you need a state RT license for every state you work in. Most states issue RT licenses in 2–6 weeks. Budget for this in your timeline and ask agencies about licensure reimbursement.
Estimates aggregated from public postings and industry data, reviewed quarterly. Individual pay varies by credential (RRT vs CRT), experience, facility, and season.
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