Respiratory Therapist salary
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What a respiratory therapist does
Respiratory therapists treat patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary problems, from newborns to intensive care. Licensed work reachable with a two-year degree.
Day-to-day duties
- Assess and treat breathing disorders
- Manage ventilators and airway support
- Administer oxygen and inhaled medication
- Respond to codes and emergencies
- Educate patients on managing chronic conditions
Skills employers look for
- Clinical judgement in acute situations
- Ventilator management
- Calm under emergency conditions
- Patient education
Requirements Licence required
- Associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy
- NBRC certification (CRT, then RRT)
- State licence in nearly every state
- BLS and ACLS certification
How to get started
- 1 Complete an accredited respiratory therapy programme
- 2 Sit the NBRC exams — RRT is the credential employers want
- 3 Obtain your state licence
- 4 Specialise in neonatal, critical care or sleep
Job outlook: Demand grew substantially through the respiratory-illness years and has stayed elevated, with an ageing population sustaining it.
Common questions about respiratory therapists
What does a respiratory therapist do?
Respiratory therapists treat patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary problems, from newborns to intensive care. Licensed work reachable with a two-year degree. Day to day, that means assess and treat breathing disorders, manage ventilators and airway support, administer oxygen and inhaled medication and respond to codes and emergencies.
How do you become a respiratory therapist?
The usual route is: (1) complete an accredited respiratory therapy programme, (2) sit the NBRC exams — RRT is the credential employers want, (3) obtain your state licence, (4) specialise in neonatal, critical care or sleep. Employers typically look for associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy, NBRC certification (CRT, then RRT) and state licence in nearly every state.
Do you need a certification to work as a respiratory therapist?
Yes. Working as a respiratory therapist requires formal certification or licensing — specifically NBRC certification (CRT, then RRT), state licence in nearly every state and BLS and ACLS certification. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.
Are respiratory therapists in demand?
Demand grew substantially through the respiratory-illness years and has stayed elevated, with an ageing population sustaining it.
Where are respiratory therapists most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.