Allied Health & Medical Technology
Respiratory Therapist
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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.
Also called: CRRT (Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist) · CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) · Diagnostics RRT (Diagnostics Registered Respiratory Therapist) · Infant RT (Infant Respiratory Therapist) · Licensed CRT (Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist) · Licensed RT (Licensed Respiratory Therapist) · RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) · Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner (Registered RCP)
O*NET-SOC 29-1126.00 (Respiratory Therapists)
Respiratory Therapist salary
Wages for respiratory therapists across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $39.56.
Respiratory Therapist pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $77,010 | $104,820 | $145,510 |
| Texas | $61,310 | $79,540 | $99,690 |
| Florida | $64,240 | $81,160 | $100,310 |
| New York | $81,270 | $107,810 | $131,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,440 | $78,490 | $95,520 |
| Illinois | $64,480 | $84,090 | $100,100 |
| Ohio | $65,580 | $79,920 | $97,030 |
| Georgia | $65,050 | $83,700 | $112,320 |
| North Carolina | $63,990 | $80,090 | $99,520 |
| Michigan | $64,770 | $79,850 | $90,210 |
Respiratory Therapist job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 142,000 jobs in 2025 to 154,200 in 2035 (9% change).
- About 8,600 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become a respiratory therapist
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.9%
- High school diploma or equivalent1.5%
- Some college, no degree10.3%
- Associate's degree54.1%
- Bachelor's degree25%
- Master's degree6.7%
- Doctoral or professional degree1.5%
Related training programs
- Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
What does a respiratory therapist do?
Common tasks
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- 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.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- 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.
- Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
- Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
- Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
Most important skills
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Respiratory Therapist certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Adult Critical Care Specialty (RRT-ACCS)National Board for Respiratory Care · Specialty · In demand
- The National Certification Corporation · Specialty
- National Board for Respiratory Care · Core · In demand
- National Board for Respiratory Care · Core · In demand
- Sleep Disorders Specialist (CRT-SDS/RRT-SDS)National Board for Respiratory Care · Specialty
- National Board for Respiratory Care · Specialty
Respiratory Therapist jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more allied health & medical technology jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Allied Health & Medical Technology jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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- Paramedic
- Acute Care Nurses
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- Critical Care Nurses
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- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Registered Nurse
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More allied health & medical technology careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Respiratory Therapists. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.