Healthcare career

Respiratory Therapist

Also called: Registered Respiratory Therapist · RRT · Respiratory Care Practitioner · RT

What respiratory therapists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a respiratory therapist do?

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with breathing problems, giving oxygen and aerosol treatments, managing mechanical ventilators, testing lung function and responding to emergencies. The median pay is $82,280 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2 years, and employment is projected to grow +8.5% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $82,280
    $39.56/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +8.5%
    2025–35, much faster than average
  • Openings per year
    8,600
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Associate's degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    2 years
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    142,000
    Employment, 2025

What respiratory therapists do

Respiratory therapists care for patients of all ages, from premature babies to older adults with COPD. They give breathing treatments, adjust oxygen, draw and analyze arterial blood gases, manage ventilators and help with intubation during emergencies. In hospitals they are core members of rapid response and code teams.

Most therapists earn an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program, pass NBRC exams and get a state license. The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential is the standard most hospitals look for. The work is fast-paced and science-heavy, and it gives therapists real responsibility in critical moments.

Typical duties

  • Assess patients’ breathing, oxygen levels and lung sounds
  • Give aerosol, inhaler and oxygen therapy
  • Set up, monitor and adjust mechanical ventilators
  • Draw and analyze arterial blood gases
  • Respond to codes, rapid responses and intubations
  • Perform pulmonary function and spirometry tests
  • Teach patients to use inhalers and home equipment

Work environment and schedule

Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, especially ICUs, emergency departments and neonatal units. Others work in sleep labs, pulmonary rehab, long-term acute care and home medical equipment companies. Therapists walk long distances and respond to emergencies.

Schedule: Hospital therapists often work 12-hour shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays.

A day in the life

  1. Take report from the night therapist on ventilator patients and scheduled treatments.
  2. Perform ventilator checks in the ICU and adjust settings with the physician.
  3. Give nebulizer treatments to asthma and COPD patients on the medical floor.
  4. Draw an arterial blood gas and report results to the team.

See a full day in the life of a respiratory therapist →

Respiratory Therapist salary

Half of respiratory therapists earned more than $82,280 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $63,660 for the lowest 10% to $118,050 for the top 10%.

Full respiratory therapist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a respiratory therapist

  1. Take science prerequisites
  2. Finish a CoARC-accredited program
  3. Pass the NBRC exams
  4. Get your state license
  5. Specialize

Respiratory therapists need at least an associate degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Bachelor’s degree programs are increasingly common. Graduates take the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice exam and, for the RRT, the Clinical Simulation exam.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a respiratory therapist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Mechanical ventilation management
  • Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
  • Aerosol and oxygen therapy
  • Airway management
  • Pulmonary function testing

People skills

  • Calm under pressure
  • Teamwork
  • Critical thinking
  • Patient education

All respiratory therapist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Associate degree leads to strong pay
  • Real responsibility in critical care
  • Variety across ICU, ER, NICU and floors
  • Steady demand, especially with an aging population

Cons

  • High-stress emergencies and codes
  • Exposure to infectious diseases
  • Nights, weekends and 12-hour shifts
  • Emotionally hard end-of-life situations

Certifications and licenses

  • Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT): The advanced NBRC credential preferred by most hospitals.
  • Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT): The entry-level NBRC credential.
  • ACLS, PALS and NRP: Life-support certifications for adult, pediatric and neonatal emergencies.
  • Specialty credentials: Such as NPS (neonatal/pediatric), ACCS (adult critical care) or RPFT (pulmonary function).

Career path

  1. Student Respiratory Therapist: Complete clinical rotations in hospitals.
  2. Staff Respiratory Therapist: Provide treatments and manage ventilators.
  3. Critical Care or Neonatal Specialist: Earn specialty credentials and work in ICUs.
  4. Lead Therapist, Educator or Department Manager: Supervise staff, teach or manage respiratory care services.

Learn the job before day one

Our Respiratory Therapist training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as give a nebulizer treatment and perform a ventilator check, safety and how to land your first job.

View Respiratory Therapist trainingIs this career right for me?

Registered Nurse

Assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families.

  • $97,550
  • 2–4 years

Paramedic

Provide advanced emergency medical care on scene and on the way to the hospital.

  • $60,600
  • 12–24 months

Radiologic Technologist

Take the X-rays and diagnostic images doctors use to find fractures, disease and injuries.

  • $80,110
  • 2 years

Licensed Practical Nurse

Give licensed nursing care (meds, wound care and monitoring) in about a year of training.

  • $64,400
  • 12–18 months

Compare: Respiratory Therapist vs. RN · Respiratory Therapist vs. Paramedic · Respiratory Therapist vs. Rad Tech · Respiratory Therapist vs. LPN

Respiratory Therapist FAQ

How long does it take to become a respiratory therapist?

Most people complete a two-year associate degree, then pass NBRC exams and get licensed.

What’s the difference between a CRT and an RRT?

The CRT is the entry-level credential. The RRT requires a higher score and the Clinical Simulation exam, and most hospitals prefer it.

Do respiratory therapists work in the ICU?

Yes. Critical care is a major part of the job, along with ER, NICU, floors, sleep labs and rehab.

How much does a respiratory therapist make?

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $82,280 ($39.56 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $63,660 and the highest 10% earned more than $118,050.

How long does it take to become a respiratory therapist?

Most people need about 2 years of training. Respiratory therapists need at least an associate degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Bachelor’s degree programs are increasingly common. Graduates take the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice exam and, for the RRT, the Clinical Simulation exam.

Do you need a degree to be a respiratory therapist?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “associate's degree” as the typical entry-level education.

More respiratory therapist questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Enroll in trainingTake fit quiz