Respiratory Therapy Technicians: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

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Respiratory Therapy Technicians

Respiratory Therapy Technicians provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

Salary
$48270
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Associate's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality



Job description

Respiratory Therapy Technicians provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

  • Work with patients in areas such as the emergency rooms, neonatal or pediatric intensive care, or surgical intensive care, treating conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or pneumonia.
  • Monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.
  • Keep records of patients’ therapy, completing all necessary forms.
  • Use ventilators or various oxygen devices or aerosol and breathing treatments in the provision of respiratory therapy.
Read more about what does a Respiratory Therapy Technician really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$51380 per year

Average hourly wage
$25 per hour


Respiratory Therapy Technicians with little to no experience tend to make between $31240 and $40810 while the more experienced ones can earn over $61910 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
NV $38 $78,380
NJ $31 $64,260
MD $29 $61,220
MA $29 $60,060
AZ $28 $58,900

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Respiratory Therapy Technician is to move to a higher paying state like NV. Right now, the highest paying states for Respiratory Therapy Technicians are NV, NJ, MD, MA and AZ.

However, a higher pay at NV doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at NV might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Respiratory Therapy Technician is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Associate’s degree

We asked other Respiratory Therapy Technicians what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had an Associate’s Degree followed by a Bachelor’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
Read more about how to become a Respiratory Therapy Technician and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Respiratory Therapy Technician.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
Suitable for people who values relationships between co-workers and customers and wants to work in a friendly non-competitive environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to start and carry out projects
Salary is below average

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
74%

Is this job meaningful
82%


74% of Respiratory Therapy Technicians said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Helpers and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Respiratory Therapy Technicians

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Respiratory Therapy Technicians job description, Respiratory Therapy Technicians salary, Respiratory Therapy Technicians information, what is the job of a Respiratory Therapy Technician like, pros and cons about Respiratory Therapy Technicians, colleges and universities for Respiratory Therapy Technicians, is Respiratory Therapy Technicians the right career for me, careers in Healthcare and Medical

Similar careers

Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT), Life Support Technician, Oxygen Equipment Technician, Oxygen Therapy Technician, Pulmonary Function Technician (PF Technician), Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT), Registered Respiratory Therapist (Staff), Respiratory Care Assistant (RCA), Respiratory Director, Respiratory Supervisor

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