Career comparison
Licensed Practical Nurse vs. Respiratory Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Respiratory therapists earn more at the median ($82,280 vs. $64,400), while licensed practical nurses usually get to work faster (12–18 months of training). Licensed practical nurses give licensed nursing care (meds, wound care and monitoring) in about a year of training. Respiratory therapists help patients breathe, from asthma treatments to managing ventilators in the ICU.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Respiratory Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,400 ($30.96/hr) | $82,280 ($39.56/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,740 – $83,440 | $63,660 – $118,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.0% (about as fast as average) | +8.5% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 51,800 | 8,600 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 12–18 months | 2 years |
| Key credential | NCLEX-PN license | Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) |
| Work setting | LPNs work in nursing and residential care facilities, home health, physician offices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and correctional facilities. | Most respiratory therapists work in hospitals, especially ICUs, emergency departments and neonatal units. |
What each job does
Licensed Practical Nurse
- Monitor patients and record vital signs and changes in condition
- Administer oral, topical and injectable medications as permitted by state law
- Provide wound care, change dressings and care for catheters and ostomies
- Collect specimens and perform routine tests such as blood glucose checks
- Update care plans and document care accurately
Respiratory Therapist
- 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
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, hands-on work, and indoor work. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose licensed practical nurse if…
- I want real nursing responsibility without a four-year degree
- I can handle medications and math carefully
- I can lead and direct other caregivers
Choose respiratory therapist if…
- I want to help people in critical situations
- I like science and physiology
- I can stay calm during emergencies
Still torn? Take the Licensed Practical Nurse fit quiz and the Respiratory Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, licensed practical nurse or respiratory therapist?
Respiratory Therapists earn more at the median: $82,280 versus $64,400 for licensed practical nurses, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Licensed Practical Nurses typically train faster (12–18 months) than respiratory therapists (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects respiratory therapists to grow +8.5% from 2025–35, compared with +3.0% for licensed practical nurses.