Respiratory Therapist Wages

Medical industry in the United States is certainly on a rise. This is because the need for quality health care is increasing day by day. Today, with the virtue of development in medical science and technology, this industry has witnessed several types of allied jobs as well as medical jobs directly related to patient care and surgeries. Respiratory therapist is one such job, which is not only decent paying, but also has a wide scope for development and growth.

Now, what do you mean by a respiratory therapist? Well, people who work in the area of providing treatments to patients suffering from respiratory or cardiopulmonary disorders are termed as respiratory therapists. But, the most important question young aspirants are confronted with is, how much do respiratory therapists earn? The salary depends upon many factors. As you proceed, you'll get to know the respiratory therapist salary and also get an idea of the factors associated with it. But let us know about the job description and educational requirements of respiratory therapist, before moving on to the salary part!

Respiratory Therapist Job Description

We have already seen the definition of respiratory therapist. However, the definition itself doesn't cover the entire work scope, as there are many other duties and responsibilities that a respiratory therapist has to perform. The following text enlists some of those tasks and duties.

• The core job of respiratory therapists involves, treating patients from all ages encountering respiratory problems, lung diseases etc.
• Providing information and suggesting preventive measures for respiratory problems.
• Prescribing exercises to improve the activity of breathing.
• Carrying out diagnostic tests and also conducting physical examinations to identify the problem.
• Preserve medical records pertaining to patient care and history and coordinating with doctors from other departments to know about patient details.
• Operating equipments, such as ventilators and respirators and also look after their maintenance and care.
• Performing administration tasks, such as purchasing additional equipments and medical supplies for the department and also managing day to day schedules and patient appointments.

Respiratory Therapist Educational Requirements

Respiratory therapist's job is a highly specialized job and therefore requires detailed training of all the aspects related to it. To become a certified respiratory therapist, it is necessary to obtain a high school graduation certificate, with subjects such as science and mathematics. Further, you need to either opt for a 2 year associate degree or a 4 year bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy. Both these training programs are governed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Passing the primary certification examination is necessary to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). This exam is followed by another one to obtain a written registration. It is also required to clear the clinical stimulation exam. Both these examinations are necessary in order to become a registered respiratory therapist (RRT). On becoming an RRT, you can opt for specialized training programs in respiratory care.

Registered Respiratory Therapist Wages

Registered respiratory therapist salary actually depends upon the size of the organization and also the educational qualifications. However, experience also plays an important role in deciding your salary. On an average, respiratory therapist earn around $40000 - $43000. According to some vital statistics, the highest 10 percent of respiratory therapists earned more than $55000, while the lowest 10 percent earned around $30000 per year. Respiratory therapist jobs might not be amongst the highest paying jobs, however looking at the enormous career opportunities in the near future, one can certainly think of going for a career as a respiratory therapist.

So by now, you must have got an idea of the respiratory therapist wages, what do they do and also their educational requirements. Remember, you might not get high paying jobs in the initial days of your career. But with knowledge, experience and performance and most importantly 'patient trust', you can grow enormously and simultaneously earn a lot.