Respiratory Therapists Career, Salary and Skills
Respiratory Therapists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $82,280 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 139,790. Wage data is published for 330 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
29-1126.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$82,280
Hourly median
$39.56
Employment
139,790
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.38 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
- Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
- Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
- 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.
- Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
Technology
- Database software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- HMS
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Respiratory Therapists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in CAMedian $104,820 · Employment 18,650
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in TXMedian $79,540 · Employment 12,130
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in FLMedian $81,160 · Employment 8,820
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in NYMedian $107,810 · Employment 7,010
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $104,640 · Employment 7,010
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in New York, NYMedian $110,490 · Employment 7,010
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in OHMedian $79,920 · Employment 6,640
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in PAMedian $78,490 · Employment 6,530
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in GAMedian $83,700 · Employment 5,150
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in ILMedian $84,090 · Employment 4,880
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in NCMedian $80,090 · Employment 4,630
- Respiratory Therapists Salary in MIMedian $79,850 · Employment 4,520
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- Emergency Medicine PhysiciansNational median $335,550
- Pediatric SurgeonsNational median $559,030
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.