2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

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.

Respiratory Therapists Salary

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Salary

$61.3K

Growth

21%

Bright Outlook

Bright

Green

What Do Respiratory Therapists Do?

Also known as:

Staff Therapist, Clinical Coordinator of Respiratory Therapy, Respiratory Therapy Director, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Staff Respiratory Therapist, Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Respiratory Therapist (RT), Cardiopulmonary Technician and EEG Tech (Cardiopulmonary Technician and Electroencephalogram Technician), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist

How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make ? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Annual Wage	$44,850	$52,820	$61,330	$74,160	$86,980
Hourly Wage	$21.56	$25.39	$29.48	$35.65	$41.82

How Much Do Respiratory Therapists Make ? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Percentile

10%

25%

50% (Median)

75%

90%

Annual Wage

$44,850

$52,820

$61,330

$74,160

$86,980

Hourly Wage

$21.56

$25.39

$29.48

$35.65

$41.82

What Tasks Do Respiratory Therapists Perform? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
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.
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
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.
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.
Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.

What Activities Do Respiratory Therapists Do? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Implement advanced life support techniques.
Treat medical emergencies.
Implement advanced life support techniques.
Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
Maintain medical facility records.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Gather medical information from patient histories.
Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
Clean medical equipment or facilities.
Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
Repair medical facility equipment.
Determine protocols for medical procedures.
Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.
Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.
Train medical providers.
Test patient heart or lung functioning.
Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Train medical providers.
Supervise patient care personnel.
Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.

Typical Respiratory Therapists Knowledge? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

What Are Typical Respiratory Therapists Abilities? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.

What Are Typical Respiratory Therapists Skills? 2020 Salary Guide

Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

What Are Typical Respiratory Therapists Interests? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Social - Occupations with Social interests frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. Most involve helping or providing service to others.
Investigative - Occupations with Investigative interests frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They often involve research and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

What Is The Projected Employment For Respiratory Therapists ? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Location	2018 Employment	2028 Employment	Percent change	Annual projected job openings
United States	134,000	162,000	21%	10,600

What Is The Projected Employment For Respiratory Therapists ? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Location

2018 Employment

2028 Employment

Percent change

Annual projected job openings

United States

134,000

162,000

21%

10,600

What Is The Required Respiratory Therapists Education & Experience? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

Associate's degree
No work experience
No on-the-job training

Where Can I Find Respiratory Therapists Training In ? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

School	Program Name	Location	Length / Graduates
Albany State University	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Albany, GA	2 years: 11
Allegany College of Maryland	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Cumberland, MD	2 years: 18
Alvin Community College	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Alvin, TX	2 years: 12
Amarillo College	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Amarillo, TX	2 years: 7
American Career College-Anaheim	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Anaheim, CA	2 years: 37
American Career College-Ontario	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Ontario, CA	2 years: 33
American College for Medical Careers	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Orlando, FL	2 years: 22
American River College	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Sacramento, CA	2 years: 16
Angelina College	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Lufkin, TX	2 years: 10
Antelope Valley College	Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	Lancaster, CA	2 years: 10

Where Can I Find Respiratory Therapists Training In ? 2020 Respiratory Therapists Salary Guide

422 United States

School

Program Name

Location

Length / Graduates

Albany State University