Treat patients who have trouble breathing, managing ventilators, oxygen, and lung therapies.
You may also see this posted as: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Respiratory Therapist (RT), Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist, Staff Respiratory Therapist.
Hospitals, especially intensive and emergency care; on your feet, hands-on.
Often long shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Associate degree
Training path: Associate degree + license.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
Requires certification and a state license in nearly every state.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Hospitals can't run without them — a 2-year degree at nearly $80k.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 29-1126. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.