Respiratory Therapist

Take a closer look at where RTs work.  Respiratory therapists provide the hands-on care that helps people recover from a wide range of medical conditions. Therapists get to know their patients, and their patients’ families, and have the opportunity to help them through trying times. Whenever breathing is an issue, they are there
You’ll find RTs—

• In hospitals giving breathing treatments to people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
• In intensive care units managing ventilators that keep the critically ill alive.
• In emergency rooms delivering life-saving treatments.
• In newborn and pediatric units helping kids with conditions ranging from premature birth to cystic fibrosis.
• In operating rooms working with anesthesiologists to monitor patients’ breathing during surgery.
• In patient’s homes providing regular check-ups and making sure people have what they need to stay out of the hospital.
• In sleep laboratories helping to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea.
• In skilled nursing facilities and pulmonary rehabilitation programs helping older people breathe easier and get more out of life.

While U.S. employment in general is forecast to increase by 15 percent, the need for RTs will grow by up to 26 percent!
With demand for RTs on the rise, salaries are following suit. According to the 2005 Human Resources study from the AARC, the projected average annual earnings of RTs working in the U.S. is $56,222. In this study, therapist just beginning their careers reported average annual earnings of $41,538.