Explore This Path

Respiratory Therapist

💰 Earn $91K-$126K

📚 Associate Degree

⏱️ 12–24 Month Training

📈 12.1% Job Growth

Help patients breathe easier and improve their quality of life.
Play a crucial role in life-saving respiratory care and emergency situations.
Work with advanced technology to monitor and treat breathing disorders.

What Respiratory Therapists DoAssess, 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.

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.
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.
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.

Respiratory Therapists Education, Salary, and Growth

Minimum EducationAssociate Degree

Career ProspectsExcellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time1 to 2 years

Job Openings8,800 Annually

Median Earnings

$102,120 in California

$80,450 Nationally

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Only you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.

Real Talk Reel

We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life of this career.

@Tampa General Hospital

Is This Career Right For You?

YOU Like

Relating with or serving others
Thinking and problem solving
Working with my hands

you value

Having support
Personal relationships
Receiving recognition

you are skilled in

Speaking
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness

Go Deeper: Respiratory Therapists Explained

Respiratory TherapistExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

How Do You Train for This Career?

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years

Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years

Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years

ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.

🎓 Paid Work

⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years

Technology BootcampA technology bootcamp typically offers intensive training in specific tech skills, preparing participants for entry-level roles in the tech industry in a relatively short period of time.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ Finish in Less than a year

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What Is the Healthcare Industry?