Quick answer:Respiratory Therapists in the Indianapolis area earn a median $81,720 per year, below the national median of $82,280, and the metro employs about 1,230 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Respiratory Therapy Pay in Indianapolis, IN
Metric
Indianapolis metro
Indiana
National
Median annual wage
$81,720
$79,730
$82,280
10th percentile
$64,970
$62,730
$63,660
25th percentile
$70,510
$67,760
$74,520
75th percentile
$85,610
$84,960
$98,730
90th percentile
$94,950
$94,980
$118,050
Employment
1,230
3,170
139,790
Location quotient
1.24
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Indianapolis median of $81,720 is below the national median of $82,280, and above the Indiana statewide median of $79,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.24 means respiratory therapists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, so the local hospital and critical-care capacity is the market.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies.
See the Indiana licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
Purdue University-Main Campus
📍
West Lafayette, IN
•60.6 miles away•BOC Score
86.0
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Hovde Hall of Administration West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040
How much do respiratory therapists make in Indianapolis?
The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $81,720, below the national median of $82,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many respiratory therapists work in the Indianapolis area?
The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area employs about 1,230 respiratory therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do respiratory therapists in Indianapolis need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies. Confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.
Can I study respiratory therapy online from Indianapolis?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state respiratory care board.
Is Indianapolis a better market than the rest of Indiana?
The Indianapolis metro median is $81,720 against a statewide median of $79,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
