How to Become a Respiratory Therapist
Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders, from premature infants to patients with chronic lung disease. It typically requires an associate's degree (accredited respiratory therapy program), with a median salary of $82,280 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$82,280/yr
Middle half
$74,520 to $98,730
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
8,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Ventilator Management
- Patient Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Physiology
- Critical Care
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist)
- State Licensure
- ACLS Certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
3/100
Work-life balance
52/100
Stress level
62/100
Satisfaction
71/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
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- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make?
The median pay for a Respiratory Therapist is $82,280 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $74,520 and $98,730 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Respiratory Therapist?
The usual entry point is an associate's degree (accredited respiratory therapy program). Common majors are Respiratory Therapy, Health Sciences, and Biology.
Is Respiratory Therapist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 8,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Respiratory Therapist use most?
Common skills for this role are Ventilator Management, Patient Assessment, Cardiopulmonary Physiology, Critical Care, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).