Key Takeaways
- Respiratory Therapists (RTs) in Kansas earn a statewide median of roughly $72,700/year – solid pay, but notably below Physical Therapists (~$98,290) and Occupational Therapists (~$83,500-$98,000).
- The PT pay gap represents a $25,000+ annual difference driven largely by education requirements and clinical scope; the OT gap varies by source but remains meaningful.
- Kansas’s lower cost of living – roughly 10% below the national average – softens that gap in real purchasing-power terms, making RT pay more competitive than the raw numbers suggest.
- RT job growth is projected at 12-13% nationally, making it a stable career, though not the highest-paying lane in allied health.
- For those considering entry into this field, Newman University’s respiratory care program in Wichita offers a direct pathway into a profession with steady demand and a realistic earnings outlook.
Picking an allied health career in Kansas requires understanding where each profession actually lands on the pay scale. For anyone weighing Respiratory Therapy against Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy, the numbers tell a clear story: RT is a respectable mid-tier option with real job security, but the pay ceiling is meaningfully lower than what PT and OT graduates typically reach. Here is what the data shows.
Kansas RT Pay Ranges Widely – But Consistently Trails PT and OT
Respiratory Therapists in Kansas earn a statewide median annual wage of approximately $72,700, or about $34.95/hour, based on ZipRecruiter median data (July 2026). That figure masks a fair amount of variation. BLS nonmetropolitan Kansas figures show a mean of just $65,610 – reflecting the lower pay in rural markets compared to urban centers like Wichita and Kansas City.
Nationally, RTs earn a median of $80,450/year (BLS May 2024), meaning Kansas salaries run roughly 9-10% below the national benchmark. That is worth noting for anyone calibrating expectations before entering the field.
For prospective students comparing career paths, Newman University’s respiratory care program in Wichita is one of the regional options that feeds directly into this market – and understanding where RT pay sits relative to PT and OT is essential context before committing to any program.
The PT and OT Pay Gap Is Real Across Every Source
No matter which data source is used – BLS, CareerOneStop, or state wage surveys – Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists consistently out-earn Respiratory Therapists in Kansas by a significant margin. This pattern holds across datasets.
Physical Therapists: $98K-$101K Depending on Source
Physical Therapists in Kansas earn a median annual salary of approximately $98,290 based on recent BLS-derived data. BLS nonmetropolitan Kansas figures show a mean of $97,600 – only about 3% below the national PT median of $101,020 (BLS May 2024), which is notably close to national parity. Even conservative estimates put Kansas PT pay in the $97,000-$101,000 range – roughly $25,000+ above the RT median.
Occupational Therapists: $83K-$98K, Still Well Above RTs
Occupational Therapists follow a similar pattern. Kansas OT median wages vary by source: ZipRecruiter (July 2026) reports a Kansas median of $83,500, while Indeed (July 2026) shows an average closer to $98,072. The national BLS median for OTs stands at $98,340 (May 2024). Across all sources, OT pay lands well above what RTs earn statewide.
Why the Gap Exists: Education Requirements and Clinical Scope
The pay difference reflects real structural factors. Physical Therapists are required to hold a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) – a three-year doctoral program following a bachelor’s degree. Occupational Therapists typically hold a master’s degree, with a growing number earning doctorates (OTD). Respiratory Therapists, by contrast, generally enter the field with an associate or bachelor’s degree plus national certification (CRT or RRT). More years of graduate education, higher licensing barriers, and broader autonomous clinical scope all translate into higher market compensation for PT and OT graduates. The pay gap largely reflects that investment.
Where RTs Actually Rank Among Allied Health in Kansas
Respiratory Therapy sits in the middle of the allied health pay stack – not at the bottom, but not near the top either.
Above: Healthcare Support Roles
Healthcare support workers in Kansas typically earn in the $36,500-$44,500 range, well below RT pay statewide. RTs meaningfully out-earn these roles.
Radiologic Technologists: A Shifting Comparison
The RT-versus-radiologic-tech comparison has shifted in recent data. ZipRecruiter (July 2026) reports a Kansas median of $76,500 for Radiologic Technologists – above the RT median of $72,700 by that same source. Earlier BLS-derived estimates placed Kansas rad tech medians around $65,000-$68,740. The gap between these two professions is narrower and less consistent than it once appeared, and prospective students should check current state-level data before drawing firm conclusions.
Sonographers: Comparable in Kansas, Higher Nationally
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Kansas earn in the $73,000-$78,000 range – essentially on par with RT medians depending on the market. Nationally, sonographers earn a BLS median of $89,340 (May 2024), which is notably higher than the national RT median of $80,450. The gap is smaller inside Kansas, but it is a data point worth tracking for anyone comparing career trajectories.
RT Pay Varies Sharply by Kansas Market
Where an RT works in Kansas matters – sometimes by more than $10,000 annually.
Wichita: A Wide Reported Range by Source
Wichita is the state’s largest city and home to major hospital systems including Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center (HCA). BLS May 2024 metro data puts the Wichita RT median at $67,820, with a 90th-percentile ceiling of $87,910. Estimates that include shift differentials and bonuses push the effective range to roughly $69,000-$92,000. The wide spread reflects experience, credentials like the RRT designation, and premium pay for nights and weekends. Cost of living in Wichita is lower than in Kansas City, which partially offsets the lower nominal salary.
Kansas City Metro: Competitive, But Not Always the Regional Leader
The Kansas City MO-KS metro is a larger regional healthcare hub – home to the University of Kansas Health System, Saint Luke’s, and Children’s Mercy – and RT pay reflects that scale. BLS May 2024 data shows a Kansas City metro RT median of $79,950, with a 90th percentile of $94,160. That is meaningfully higher than Wichita and above the statewide median, though PT and OT salaries in the same market run $95,000-$110,000+, so the relative gap persists regardless of metro.
Kansas’s Lower Cost of Living Softens the Pay Gap
Raw salary comparisons do not tell the whole story. Kansas’s cost of living runs roughly 10% below the national average, with housing as the primary driver. A Kansas RT earning $72,700 enjoys meaningfully higher purchasing power than a peer earning the same amount in a high-cost state like California or Massachusetts. That does not erase the gap with PT and OT – but it does make the RT salary more livable than the headline number implies. For someone prioritizing a balanced lifestyle alongside a stable healthcare career, the Kansas market holds real practical appeal.
12-13% Job Growth Makes RT a Stable, Mid-Tier Choice
Beyond salary, job security matters – and RT delivers on that front. National projections put RT employment growth at approximately 12-13%, driven by aging populations, rising rates of chronic respiratory conditions like COPD and asthma, and continued hospital demand for ventilator management and critical care support. That is a strong growth outlook by any measure. It does not push RT into the top earning tier of allied health, but it does make it a reliable career with predictable demand – particularly in hospital-heavy markets like Wichita and Kansas City.
Newman’s Respiratory Care Program Offers Solid Entry Into a Mid-Tier Field
For students in Kansas weighing allied health options, the career math for Respiratory Therapy is straightforward: a shorter educational path at the associate or bachelor’s level, faster entry into the workforce, and a stable salary in the low-to-mid $70,000s statewide – with upside in markets like Kansas City and for RTs who earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential or specialize in areas like neonatal or critical care.
PT and OT require doctoral or master’s-level education and longer training timelines, which is why they command higher salaries. For students who want direct patient care in acute settings, a manageable entry barrier, and dependable job prospects, respiratory therapy is a legitimate and well-compensated starting point.
For a deeper look at career-focused respiratory care training grounded in the Wichita healthcare landscape, Newman University prepares students for licensure and entry into one of allied health’s most stable and in-demand roles.
Newman University
3100 McCormick
Wichita
Kansas
67213
United States
