What to Pay a Respiratory Therapist in Providence, RI (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$88,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$77K–$101K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+3.6%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~24

Providence metro average

To hire a Respiratory Therapist in Providence at market, plan on a base salary range of $77,000 to $101,000, with $88,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 24 days, expect to lead at $101K–$116K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Rhode Island does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your RT pay range in Providence

Three pay positions, modeled against current Providence market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$67K–$77K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Providence average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$83.6K–$93.2K

Default for most Providence employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~24 days. A range width of ~30% (min $77,000 to max $101,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a RT's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$95.8K–$116K

Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

RT salary percentile distribution in Providence, RI

Where the Providence market actually sits for RT base pay.

10th $67K

25th $77K

Median $88K

75th $101K

90th $116K

Most Providence employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($88,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $77,000 and a max of $101,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Rhode Island pay transparency compliance for RT job postings

What you must post when hiring a RT in Rhode Island.

Not required statewide. Rhode Island has no statewide pay transparency law. Posting a range is optional — but roughly half of healthcare employers in the market now disclose ranges voluntarily, and candidates increasingly skip postings without one.

For a RT role in Providence, a compliant good-faith range looks like $77,000 to $101,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $77,000–$101,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

Top RT employers in Providence — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring RTs in the Providence metro and what they're posting.

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
Lifespan	Academic medical center system	$83K–$104K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
Care New England	Health system	$83K–$104K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
CharterCARE Health Partners	Health system	$83K–$104K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
Hasbro Children's Hospital	Pediatric specialty	$83K–$104K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
South County Hospital	Community hospital	$79K–$100K	Very common ($8K–$15K)

RT talent supply and hiring difficulty in Providence

How hard is it to fill a RT role in Providence.

~24

Avg Days to Fill

~1,056

Active Postings

~6,160

Providence RT Workforce

Moderate

Supply : Demand

Providence respiratory therapist market centered on hospital ICU/ER, neonatal units, and pulmonary rehabilitation. ECMO specialists and NICU RTs command specialty premiums.

Skill premiums RT candidates command in Providence, RI

Skill / Credential	Pay Premium	Demand Signal
ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist)	+7–10%	Very high
NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist)	+7–10%	Very high
ECMO specialist	+9–14%	High — specialty centers
RRT-SDS (Sleep Disorders)	+5–8%	Moderate

RT total compensation in Providence — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for RTs in Providence. "Prevalence" reflects share of Providence disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Providence Postings
Base salary	$88,000 (median)	100%
Shift differential	+12–18% premium	~86%
Sign-on bonus	$5K–$12K	~62%
Certification pay (ACCS, NPS)	+7–10% on base	~52%
Overtime opportunity	$9K–$18K annualized	~90%
Estimated total comp benchmark	~$107K–$127K	—

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

RT pay by setting in Providence — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the RT range splits by employer type in the Providence metro.

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
Acute-care hospital (general)	$84,000	$76K–$97K	Moderate
ICU / critical care RT	$97,000	$86K–$109K	Very high
Emergency department RT	$93,000	$83K–$106K	Very high
Neonatal / pediatric RT	$95,000	$84K–$107K	Very high
Pulmonary rehab / sleep lab	$79,000	$72K–$92K	Moderate

FAQ: hiring a Respiratory Therapist in Providence, RI

How much should I pay a Respiratory Therapist in Providence, RI?

Market median is $88,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $88,000 — typically $77,000 to $101,000. To lead the market, plan on $101K–$116K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a RT job in Rhode Island?

No statewide law requires a posted range in Rhode Island. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $77,000–$101,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.

Is offering $79,000 competitive for a RT in Providence?

$79,000 falls below the Providence market median of $88,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for RTs in Providence?

Roughly 62% of Providence RT postings include a sign-on bonus ($5K–$12K). Specialty units (ICU, NICU, ECMO) command highest premiums.

How long does it take to fill a RT role in Providence?

Average fill time is approximately 24 days in the Providence metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($101K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($77K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for RT talent in Providence?

By Providence-metro posting volume: Lifespan, Care New England, CharterCARE Health Partners, Hasbro Children's Hospital, South County Hospital lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a RT in Providence?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for RT in Providence — for example, $77,000 to $101,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does Rhode Island require RT pay range disclosure for internal postings?

No. Rhode Island has no pay transparency law covering internal or external postings. Note that remote roles open to candidates in states like Colorado or California may still trigger those states' disclosure requirements.

Related RT pay benchmarks — Rhode Island metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

RT pay benchmark — Hartford, CT → All RT pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Providence

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.