Best Respiratory Therapy Programs in Seal Beach, California (2026)

Quick answer: Respiratory therapists in California earn a median of $104,820 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited respiratory therapist schools near Seal Beach, California with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.

Comparing respiratory therapist schools in Seal Beach, California starts with the local labor market and the credentials each program offers. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $104,820 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Seal Beach Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$104,820BLS OEWS, May 2025
California pay range (10th to 90th percentile)$77,010 to $145,510BLS OEWS, May 2025
Los Angeles, CA metro median wage$104,640BLS OEWS, May 2025
National job outlook (2024 to 2034)+12.1% growth, about 8,800 openings per yearBLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
State employment18,650 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
Orange County unemployment rate3.9%BLS LAUS, 2024
California location quotient1.14BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Seal Beach. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Orange County and California figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.


Respiratory Therapy Programs near Seal Beach

No schools in our database within 250 miles. If this is a mistake, contact us.

Respiratory Therapist Salary Snapshot

U.S.
U.S. Median Pay $82,280 $39.56 per hour
Job Outlook 12.0% 16,800 jobs (2024–2034)
8,800 openings/yr

Training & Certification Steps in California

  1. Complete an accredited or state-approved Respiratory Therapist program (certificate, diploma, or associate degree).
  2. Build hands-on experience through labs, clinicals, or supervised practice as required in your state.
  3. Prepare for any required certification or licensing exams and keep up with continuing education.

Tips for Choosing a Program

  • Confirm the curriculum aligns with employer expectations and any national certification you plan to pursue.
  • Compare schedules. many schools near Seal Beach offer evening, weekend, or hybrid options.
  • Ask about clinical, lab, or externship placements and how they are arranged.
  • Review program outcomes, career support services, and available tuition assistance. Individual outcomes may vary.

Respiratory-Therapist Salary in U.S.

Median Salary $82,280 $39.56/hr
Average Salary $87,300 $41.97/hr

Salary Range

$63,660 10th pctl
$82,280 Median
$118,050 90th pctl
10th Percentile $63,660 $30.61/hr
25th Percentile $74,520 $35.83/hr
75th Percentile $98,730 $47.47/hr
90th Percentile $118,050 $56.75/hr

Employment & Outlook

Total Employed139,790
Growth (2024-2034)12.0%
Annual Openings8,800
Jobs per 1,0000.9

Respiratory Therapists (29-1126) • BLS OEWS, May 2025 • bls.gov/oes

Next Steps


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.