Salary data
What Respiratory Therapists Actually Earn
Median annual salary
$70,540
Half of all RTs earn above this
Top 10% annual salary
$98,000+
Critical care and NICU specialists
Entry level (10th pctile)
$50,000
First-year CRT in a hospital setting
NCHWA shortage
Projected
NCHWA projects RT shortage through 2037
Respiratory Therapists are on the frontlines of the most critical hospital settings — ICU, NICU, ER, and trauma. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a shortage of respiratory therapists through 2037, driven by COVID-19's long-term impact on workforce attrition and increased demand for chronic disease management.
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 · NBRC 2024 · NCHWA Projections 2024. Salary figures are national estimates.
Florida median RT salary
$65,000
Below national — high COPD and asthma patient volume
Florida top 10%
$88,000+
ICU and NICU RTs in major FL health systems
Entry level in Florida
$47,000
First-year CRT — FL market
FL respiratory demand
High
FL's elderly population has disproportionately high COPD rates
Florida-specific: Florida licenses respiratory therapists through the Florida Board of Respiratory Care. Requirements include graduation from a CAPRC-accredited program and NBRC certification (CRT or RRT). Florida's large population of elderly residents with COPD, asthma, and post-COVID respiratory complications creates sustained, high-volume RT demand across the state.
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 FL state data · CareerOneStop · AARC. City estimates are approximations.
Texas median RT salary
$67,000
Below national — no state income tax
Texas top 10%
$92,000+
Critical care and transport RTs
Entry level in Texas
$48,000
First-year CRT — TX market
TX RT shortage
Severe
Texas rural areas report critical RT shortfalls
Texas-specific: Texas licenses respiratory therapists through the Texas Medical Board. NBRC CRT or RRT certification is required for licensure. The Texas Medical Center's large ICU and NICU programs are major RT employers. Texas's rural RT shortage creates travel and per diem opportunities for experienced RTs willing to work underserved markets.
Sources: BLS OES May 2024 TX state data · CareerOneStop · NBRC. City estimates are approximations.
Training paths
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist
01
Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy (2 Years)
Standard path to CRT/RRT
A 2-year CAPRC-accredited associate degree covering respiratory anatomy, mechanical ventilation, ABG analysis, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. Graduate eligible for CRT exam (entry-level) and RRT exam (advanced practitioner).
- Program cost: $15,000–$40,000 at community colleges and vocational institutions
- Completed in 2 years with significant clinical rotation in hospitals
- NBRC CRT exam: Certified Respiratory Therapist — entry-level credential
- NBRC RRT exam: Registered Respiratory Therapist — advanced credential, required for ICU and NICU roles
- Many hospitals require RRT within 1–2 years of hire — plan to test for RRT promptly
02
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (4 Years)
A 4-year degree providing a stronger foundation for leadership, education, and advanced practice roles. Required for some hospital management positions and provides a pathway to graduate study in respiratory therapy.
- Supports advancement to RT supervisor, educator, or management roles
- Not required for clinical practice — most RTs work on 2-year credentials
- Higher cost without meaningful first-year salary difference vs. associate degree
- Good foundation for pursuing physician assistant or medical school pathways later
03
RRT + Specialty Certifications
Best for income growth
After achieving RRT status, specialty certifications dramatically increase earning potential. Adult Critical Care (ACCS), Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS), and Sleep Disorder Specialist (SDS) are the three most valuable advanced credentials.
- ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist): ICU-focused — commands highest RT salaries
- NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist): NICU and pediatric ICU — specialized, high demand
- SDS (Sleep Disorder Specialist): Growing sector — daytime hours, outpatient setting
- Each specialty adds $5,000–$15,000 to annual compensation in most markets
Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapist
Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapist
6:45
AM
Shift report and patient rounding
Receive report from the outgoing RT. Review ventilator settings, ABG results, and respiratory care orders for each patient. ICU RTs manage 8–12 ventilated patients per shift.
7:30
AM
Ventilator management
Assess mechanically ventilated patients. Adjust FiO2, PEEP, and tidal volume per ABG results and physician orders. Troubleshoot alarms. This is the highest-acuity part of the RT role.
9:00
AM
Breathing treatments and airway care
Administer nebulized bronchodilators and steroids, perform chest physiotherapy, suction airways, and care for tracheostomy patients. Many treatments per shift in a busy respiratory unit.
11:00
AM
Pulmonary function testing
Outpatient RTs perform spirometry and diffusion studies. Interpret results, document findings, and coordinate with pulmonologists for diagnostic workup.
1:30
PM
Intubation and code support
When a patient's airway fails, the RT is called. Assisting with intubation and managing the airway during codes is a defining skill of experienced RTs.
4:00
PM
Weaning and extubation assessment
Evaluate ventilated patients for readiness to wean from mechanical support. Perform spontaneous breathing trials. Successful extubation is one of the most rewarding moments in critical care.
What you will need
Skills That Make a Great Respiratory Therapist
What you will need
Skills That Make a Great Respiratory Therapist
Mechanical ventilation expertise
Managing ventilated patients in the ICU is the highest-stakes skill in respiratory therapy. Understanding vent modes, alarm management, and lung-protective strategies separates competent from exceptional RTs.
ABG interpretation
Arterial blood gas analysis tells you exactly what a patient's lungs are doing. Rapid, accurate ABG interpretation is a foundational clinical skill for every RT.
Airway management
Bag-mask ventilation, intubation assistance, tracheostomy care, and suctioning. When a patient can't breathe, the RT is the expert in the room.
Critical thinking under pressure
Respiratory emergencies develop fast. The ability to assess, decide, and act correctly in seconds is the defining competency of an excellent RT.
Patient and family communication
Explaining ventilator dependence, breathing exercises, and COPD management to patients and families requires clarity, patience, and genuine empathy.
Pharmacology knowledge
Bronchodilators, steroids, mucolytics, pulmonary vasodilators — RTs administer and monitor a wide range of respiratory medications and need to know their mechanisms and interactions.
Job market outlook
The Market for Respiratory Therapists in 2025
Job market outlook
The Market for Respiratory Therapists in 2025
Projected growth 2024–2034
+13%
BLS — much faster than average
New openings per year
14,900
BLS projection — growth plus replacement
Current RT jobs in the US
139,000+
BLS · 2024
NCHWA shortage projection
Through 2037
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
Respiratory therapy is experiencing one of the most significant workforce shortages in any allied health field. The COVID-19 pandemic created a wave of RT attrition — experienced therapists who left the profession after the extraordinary demands of 2020–2022 — that has not been replaced. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects RT shortages continuing through 2037.
The chronic disease burden is the structural driver. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the US. Asthma affects 25 million Americans. Pulmonary complications of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are creating new respiratory care demand that didn't exist at the same scale a generation ago.
The sleep medicine sector is one of the fastest-growing areas in respiratory therapy. Sleep disorders affect 70 million Americans and are dramatically underdiagnosed and undertreated. Sleep-focused RTs work daytime outpatient hours — a significant quality-of-life advantage over hospital shift work — at competitive salaries.
Common questions
Respiratory Therapist FAQs
Common questions
Respiratory Therapist FAQs
The CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) is the entry-level NBRC credential. The RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) is the advanced credential, requiring a higher-level written exam plus a clinical simulation examination. Most hospitals require RRT for ICU and NICU positions. New graduates can sit for CRT immediately after program completion and RRT after meeting additional requirements — most working RTs pursue RRT within their first year.
In most states, RTs assist with intubation — holding equipment, providing bag-mask ventilation, and managing the airway post-intubation — rather than performing laryngoscopy independently. Some states and institutions, particularly transport teams and flight medicine programs, credential RTs for independent intubation. Critical care RTs are frequently the most experienced airway managers in the hospital outside of anesthesia.
A 2-year associate degree is the standard path. After graduation, you sit for the NBRC CRT exam. Most programs encourage graduates to immediately begin studying for the RRT — completing both within the first year of employment is the standard expectation. A 4-year BS in Respiratory Therapy exists for those targeting leadership or education roles.
Yes — travel respiratory therapy is a well-established market. Most agencies require RRT credential plus 1–2 years of acute care (ICU or NICU) experience before a first contract. Travel RT rates are competitive and the RT shortage has made experienced travelers especially sought after, particularly in rural and underserved markets.
Hospital RTs typically work 12-hour shifts — day, night, and rotating schedules are all common, as respiratory therapy is a 24/7 inpatient service. Outpatient RTs (pulmonary clinics, sleep centers) often work standard weekday hours. The sleep medicine sector specifically offers daytime, Monday–Friday schedules — a significant quality-of-life advantage for those who prefer it.
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