Respiratory Therapists: Career Profile
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
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What Tasks Do Respiratory Therapists Do?
Typical responsibilities of respiratory therapists cover:
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
What Respiratory Therapists Need to Know
Successful respiratory therapists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Respiratory Therapists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
- Hospital Respiratory Therapist
- Inhalation Therapist
- NICU Respiratory Therapist (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist)
- Oxygen Therapist
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
- Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 3,445,190 respiratory therapists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +4.8% over the projection horizon.
Respiratory Therapists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $128,345 |
| Hourly median | $61.70 |
| 10th percentile | $83,666 |
| 25th percentile | $106,006 |
| 75th percentile | $150,685 |
| 90th percentile | $173,024 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $104,240 |
| New York | $103,820 |
| California | $102,120 |
| New Jersey | $98,020 |
| Washington | $97,150 |
| Massachusetts | $96,940 |
| Oregon | $96,130 |
| Hawaii | $94,670 |
| Alaska | $94,210 |
| Minnesota | $88,040 |
| Delaware | $87,380 |
| Maryland | $85,570 |
| New Hampshire | $83,620 |
| Rhode Island | $83,600 |
| Connecticut | $83,250 |
| Wisconsin | $82,160 |
| Georgia | $81,890 |
| Illinois | $81,310 |
| Montana | $80,950 |
| Colorado | $80,690 |
| Florida | $79,710 |
| Virginia | $79,600 |
| Nevada | $79,510 |
| Maine | $79,330 |
| Arizona | $79,290 |
| Utah | $78,990 |
| Nebraska | $78,880 |
| Vermont | $78,760 |
| Ohio | $78,400 |
| Indiana | $77,820 |
| Texas | $77,550 |
| Michigan | $77,460 |
| North Carolina | $77,050 |
| North Dakota | $76,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,160 |
| Oklahoma | $76,080 |
| South Carolina | $75,960 |
| Wyoming | $75,900 |
| Idaho | $75,510 |
| Missouri | $73,880 |
| Kansas | $73,580 |
| Louisiana | $70,140 |
| Iowa | $68,790 |
| Arkansas | $67,960 |
| New Mexico | $66,460 |
| West Virginia | $66,370 |
| Kentucky | $65,670 |
| Tennessee | $65,000 |
| South Dakota | $64,720 |
| Alabama | $64,010 |
| Mississippi | $61,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,510 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for respiratory therapists vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $99,844 | 17.1% | 1.07 |
| Middle Atlantic | $91,843 | 13.5% | 0.90 |
| New England | $88,596 | 3.6% | 0.79 |
| Great Lakes | $79,212 | 15.6% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $79,199 | 3.3% | 0.83 |
| Southwest | $77,328 | 12.6% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $75,401 | 6.0% | 0.98 |
| Southeast | $74,020 | 27.8% | 1.18 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $137,080 | 950 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $132,520 | 190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $131,320 | 1,940 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $129,640 | 210 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $129,180 | 1,070 |
| Redding, CA | CA | $119,560 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $104,890 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $104,840 | 6,570 |
Top Industries Employing Respiratory Therapists
The largest employers of respiratory therapists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 126,950 | $80,650 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3,020 | $90,500 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,850 | $72,510 |
| Retail Trade | 1,590 | $68,080 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,550 | $65,170 |
| Educational Services | 510 | $83,630 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 170 | $76,220 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 70 | $95,680 |
Respiratory Therapists work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of respiratory therapists reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level respiratory therapists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Physical Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Registered Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Acute Care Nurses (Primary-Short)
- Critical Care Nurses (Primary-Short)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Supplemental)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for respiratory therapists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists).
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