Profession · Full profile

Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients who have trouble breathing in hospitals and clinics.

Average salary

$82,280

Salary range

$63,660 – $118,050

Training time

2 years full time

Job market

Much faster than average

9/10

Work-life balance

Fair

5/10

Respiratory therapists care for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders across all age groups. They evaluate lung function, manage mechanical ventilators, administer aerosol medications, and draw arterial blood gases. When medical emergencies like cardiac arrest occur, they manage airways quickly alongside doctors and nurses. Most positions are in hospital intensive care units, emergency rooms, and transport units. The work requires standing for long hours, handling complex machines, and calming patients who struggle for breath during acute health episodes.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A typical 12-hour hospital shift focused on critical care rounds, ventilator checks, and scheduled aerosol treatments.

6:45 AM - 7:15 AM
Shift handoff
Receive reports from the night shift therapist on ventilator settings, patient status, and pending blood gas tests.
7:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Morning ventilator rounds
Inspect mechanical ventilators, confirm alarm parameters, and suction airways for intensive care patients.
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Medication delivery and arterial sampling
Administer aerosol treatments, perform chest physical therapy, and draw arterial blood gas samples.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Physician rounds and charting
Discuss ventilator weaning progress with the medical team and document assessments in electronic health records.
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Meal break
Step away from the clinical unit while a colleague covers emergency alerts.
1:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Scheduled treatments and patient education
Deliver afternoon breathing treatments and show floor patients how to operate home oxygen gear and inhalers.
4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Follow-up blood gas analysis
Run lab tests on arterial samples and adjust ventilator oxygen levels based on results.
6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
Documentation and evening handoff
Complete daily clinical records and brief the incoming night therapist on high-risk patients.

Task breakdown

A 12-hour overnight shift handling intensive care units, floor consults, and emergency room calls.

6:45 PM - 7:15 PM
Night shift report
Review patient assignments, critical lab orders, and emergency call coverage zones with daytime staff.
7:15 PM - 10:00 PM
Evening treatment rounds
Deliver scheduled nebulizer medications and verify baseline ventilator mechanics for intubated patients.
10:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Emergency department response
Respond to acute asthma flares, set up bi-level positive airway pressure, and assist with urgent intubations.
12:30 AM - 1:15 AM
Break and equipment restock
Restock emergency airway trays and clean aerosol delivery devices.
1:15 AM - 4:00 AM
Overnight monitoring and blood gas testing
Check ventilator pressures, assess sleep apnea patients on therapy, and run scheduled blood gas samples.
4:00 AM - 6:15 AM
Pre-dawn treatments and weaning trials
Administer early morning breathing treatments and conduct spontaneous breathing trials for extubation candidates.
6:15 AM - 7:15 AM
Morning handoff and charting
Finalize electronic charts and review overnight events with the day shift team.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$63,660

Average

$82,280

Maximum

$118,050

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$63,660	$82,280	$118,050
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
Ohio	$65,580	$79,920	$97,030

Typical benefits

Health insurance and retirement plans

Comprehensive medical coverage and retirement savings accounts provided by employers.

Shift differentials for nights and weekends

Extra hourly pay for taking night, weekend, and holiday assignments.

Tuition assistance for advanced credentials

Employer financial support for coursework and examinations toward higher clinical degrees.

Flexible schedules with 12-hour shifts

Compressed workweeks that offer several consecutive days off between scheduled rotations.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

Associate degree

2 years full time

Associate degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program

An associate degree is the typical entry level for this job. Graduation from an accredited program is required to take the national board exams.

Costs: About $4,150 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public two-year college (in-district)
Entry requirements: High school diploma with science and math courses

Bachelor's degree

4 years full time

Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy

Increasingly preferred by hospitals and helpful for leadership roles. Provides extensive training in clinical evaluation, cardiopulmonary pathophysiology, and research.

Costs: About $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students, and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

License

After graduation

State respiratory therapy license

Continuing education is required to keep the license and credentials. State licensure is mandatory to practice in all states except Alaska.

Entry requirements: Graduation from an accredited program and passing the national board exams

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Mechanical ventilationSetting up, monitoring, troubleshooting, and weaning patients from invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilators.
Arterial blood gas sampling and analysisDrawing blood from arteries to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acidity levels in laboratory analyzers.
Airway managementMaintaining clear airways, suctioning secretions, and assisting medical staff with endotracheal intubation.
Pulmonary function testingAdministering spirometry and volume tests to measure lung capacities and assess respiratory impairments.
Oxygen and aerosol therapyAdministering medical gases, humidity treatments, and nebulized bronchodilators according to physician orders.
Patient assessmentEvaluating chest movement, breath sounds, vital signs, and past medical records to determine clinical needs.

Soft skills

CompassionComforting anxious patients and families who face severe breathing distress or life-threatening illness.
Calm under pressureActing with speed and precision during cardiac arrests, rapid deteriorations, and emergency code calls.
TeamworkCoordinating closely with doctors, registered nurses, and transport crews during complex bedside interventions.
Attention to detailMonitoring small changes in machine settings, vital signs, and test readings to prevent clinical errors.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
ComposedMaintains clear focus and emotional stability during critical medical emergencies in intensive care units.
✓
EmpatheticListens patiently to vulnerable individuals who experience breathing difficulties and fear during hospital stays.
✓
MethodicalFollows rigorous clinical protocols when testing blood gases, calculating medication doses, and tuning machines.
✓
VigilantNotices subtle shifts in patient breathing sounds, ventilator waveforms, and physiological monitors early.
✓
AdaptableTransitions smoothly between routine floor treatments and unplanned emergency calls across different hospital wards.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

8,600

Trend

Growth

+8.5%

AI impact

2/10

Smart ventilators and monitors automate some adjustments and alarms, while bedside assessment, emergency response and hands-on treatment remain human work.

Regional demand

Ohio

Strong clinical demand throughout comprehensive health systems, rehabilitation hospitals, and community care centers.

7/10

California

High demand driven by large healthcare networks, regional trauma centers, and specialized hospital systems.

6/10

Florida

Consistent hiring across regional hospitals, retirement communities, and long-term care centers.

5/10

Texas

Steady demand across major urban medical complexes, suburban hospital facilities, and outpatient pulmonary clinics.

5/10

New York

Regular employment opportunities in metropolitan medical centers, academic teaching hospitals, and transport units.

4/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Entry-level respiratory therapist (CRT)
0-2 years
Provides fundamental respiratory treatments, diagnostic testing, and equipment checks under general hospital supervision.
Registered respiratory therapist (RRT)
2-5 years
Handles advanced mechanical ventilation, high-risk patient assessments, and intensive care interventions.
Lead therapist or specialist in critical care or neonatal care
5-8 years
Mentors junior staff and guides specialized therapy in neonatal, pediatric, or adult intensive care units.
Respiratory care department manager
8+ years
Oversees department operations, manages clinical staffing budgets, and maintains quality compliance.

Horizontal move

Registered nurse
Transitions clinical experience toward general nursing care, medication management, and patient coordination.
View Registered Nurse
Physician assistant
Expands diagnostic and therapeutic scope by completing medical training to examine patients and prescribe treatments.
View Physician Assistant

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Usually full time, often in 12-hour shifts, with overtime available in busy seasons.
Remote work: Remote work is not possible for patient care, which requires being at the bedside, though some home care follow-up can be done by phone.
Physical requirements: Long hours on your feet in hospitals, moving equipment, positioning patients and exposure to infectious diseases.
Typical employers: Hospitals, nursing and long-term care facilities, home health and medical equipment companies, sleep labs and physician offices, air and ground medical transport services.
Professional associations: American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a respiratory therapist do daily?

Respiratory therapists evaluate patients with breathing problems and collaborate with physicians on treatment plans. They set up, adjust, and monitor ventilators for critically ill patients. They also administer aerosol medications, conduct pulmonary function tests, and draw arterial blood for gas analysis. In emergencies, they manage airways and assist during cardiac arrests. They also teach families how to use inhalers and home oxygen devices.

What degree is needed to become a respiratory therapist?

An associate degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program is the typical entry-level education requirement. Many hospitals increasingly prefer candidates holding a four-year Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy, especially for leadership positions. Both degrees require prerequisite science and math coursework. After completing an accredited program, graduates must pass national board examinations to qualify for state licensure.

Do respiratory therapists work twelve-hour shifts?

Yes, full-time respiratory therapists often work twelve-hour shifts because hospitals require clinical coverage around the clock. These shifts allow therapists to have more days off each week, but they regularly include working nights, weekends, and holidays. On-call coverage and overtime hours are also common, particularly during busy winter seasons when respiratory illnesses increase.

Can respiratory therapists work remotely from home?

Remote work is not possible for direct patient care, because the job requires bedside presence in clinical environments. Therapists must physically inspect ventilators, draw blood samples, and respond immediately to bedside emergencies. Some telephone follow-up can be done from home by therapists employed with home medical equipment companies, but almost all clinical practice remains entirely hands-on.

What is the difference between CRT and RRT credentials?

The Certified Respiratory Therapist credential is the entry-level certificate issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care. The Registered Respiratory Therapist credential represents advanced knowledge and clinical competency. Both credentials require passing national board examinations after graduating from an accredited program. Hospitals frequently prefer hiring therapists who hold the advanced credential for intensive care units.

Is a state license required to practice respiratory therapy?

A state license is required to practice respiratory therapy in all states except Alaska. To qualify for a license, applicants must graduate from an accredited respiratory therapy program and pass the national board examinations. Once licensed, practitioners must complete continuing education credits to keep their state licenses and board credentials active throughout their careers.

Where do respiratory therapists typically work?

Hospitals employ the majority of respiratory therapists in intensive care units, emergency rooms, and general surgical floors. Outside acute hospitals, therapists work in nursing and long-term care facilities, sleep labs, and physician offices. They also work for home health agencies, medical equipment suppliers, and specialized air and ground transport services caring for critically ill patients during transfers.

Explore further

Related professions

In depth

All about respiratory therapist

The background, context and details.

Clinical care for patients with breathing disorders

Respiratory therapists assess patients with breathing problems and review their medical history with doctors. Breathing cannot wait. Clinicians administer aerosol medications and oxygen therapy. They draw arterial blood samples and test lung function and blood gas levels to evaluate respiratory health. When patients experience severe respiratory failure, therapists set up, monitor and adjust mechanical ventilators and other complex breathing equipment so that oxygen reaches vital organs. They teach patients and families how to use inhalers and home oxygen. Remote work is not possible for bedside patient care, though clinicians can complete some home care follow-up by phone. Patient contact matters.

Settings where respiratory care practitioners work

Hospitals employ many respiratory therapists across emergency rooms and intensive care units. Coverage is continuous. Hospitals need coverage around the clock, so night, weekend, holiday and on-call shifts are common. Flexible schedules often feature 12-hour shifts. Overtime is available during busy seasons. Other typical healthcare employers include:

Nursing and long-term care facilities
Home health and medical equipment companies
Sleep labs and physician offices
Air and ground medical transport services

Bedside care requires spending long hours on your feet, moving equipment, and positioning patients. Exposure to infectious diseases is an everyday reality.

Emergency response and daily clinical duties

Therapists respond to emergencies such as cardiac arrest and help with airway management. They act fast. Intensive care and emergency work can be stressful. Staying calm helps. Although smart ventilators and monitors automate routine adjustments and alarms, bedside assessment and emergency response remain human work that requires direct clinical judgment. Clinicians rely on teamwork and attention to detail.

Education and credentials required for practice

An associate degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program takes 2 years full time and serves as the typical entry level for this career. High school preparation requires science and math courses. A Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy takes 4 years full time and is increasingly preferred by hospitals for leadership roles. A state license is required in all states except Alaska. Candidates must graduate from an accredited program and pass national examinations from the National Board for Respiratory Care to earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist credential or the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential. Continuing education is required to keep the license and credentials active. Professional membership is available through the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Review accredited programs to begin your career.