What Does it Take to Be a Respiratory Therapy Technician?
Job Description & Duties Provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
A Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapy Technician
- Perform diagnostic procedures to assess the severity of respiratory dysfunction in patients.
- Use ventilators or various oxygen devices or aerosol and breathing treatments in the provision of respiratory therapy.
- Clean, sterilize, check, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.
- Teach patients how to use respiratory equipment at home.
- Administer breathing or oxygen procedures, such as intermittent positive pressure breathing treatments, ultrasonic nebulizer treatments, or incentive spirometer treatments.
- Recommend or review bedside procedures, x-rays, or laboratory tests.
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Respiratory Therapy Technician Required Skills
When polled, Respiratory Therapy Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Respiratory Therapy Technician Job Titles
- Respiratory Supervisor
- Respiratory Technician
- In-Home Therapist
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
- Respiratory Care Technician
Job Demand for Respiratory Therapy Technicians
There were about 10,800 jobs for Respiratory Therapy Technician in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Respiratory Therapy Technician.
The states with the most job growth for Respiratory Therapy Technician are Maryland, Texas, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Illinois, or Indiana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Respiratory Therapy Technician Make?
The average yearly salary of a Respiratory Therapy Technician ranges between $31,240 and $73,530.
Respiratory Therapy Technicians who work in Nevada, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Respiratory Therapy Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,740 |
| Arizona | $58,900 |
| Arkansas | $47,050 |
| California | $48,150 |
| Colorado | $42,070 |
| Connecticut | $54,680 |
| Florida | $49,670 |
| Georgia | $48,160 |
| Hawaii | $58,770 |
| Illinois | $56,340 |
| Indiana | $49,780 |
| Iowa | $44,690 |
| Kansas | $45,390 |
| Kentucky | $42,850 |
| Louisiana | $49,010 |
| Maryland | $61,220 |
| Massachusetts | $60,060 |
| Michigan | $38,420 |
| Mississippi | $45,730 |
| Missouri | $53,470 |
| Nebraska | $46,820 |
| Nevada | $78,380 |
| New Hampshire | $51,850 |
| New Jersey | $64,260 |
| New York | $56,780 |
| Ohio | $46,980 |
| Oregon | $55,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,430 |
| South Carolina | $49,520 |
| Tennessee | $40,560 |
| Texas | $51,930 |
| Utah | $49,680 |
| Virginia | $52,830 |
| Washington | $58,190 |
| West Virginia | $51,700 |
| Wisconsin | $37,290 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Respiratory Therapy Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Respiratory Therapy Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
How to Become a Respiratory Therapy Technician
What kind of Respiratory Therapy Technician requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Respiratory Therapy Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Career changers with experience as a Respiratory Therapy Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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