Respiratory Therapists: Job Description
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.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Respiratory Therapists Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of respiratory therapists include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful respiratory therapists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to 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)
How Many Respiratory Therapists Are There?
There are roughly 3,445,190 respiratory therapists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Respiratory Therapists
| 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 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Respiratory Therapists Salary by State
| 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 |
Where Respiratory Therapists Earn the Most
Compensation for respiratory therapists shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Respiratory Therapists
The largest employers of respiratory therapists are found across 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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of respiratory therapists is shaped by 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 career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for respiratory therapists often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.