Respiratory Therapist Salary
Just as with any other employment field, a respiratory therapist salary is going to range quite a bit depending on several different factors. Education, skill level, and amount of experience will all affect the typical base level salary that a therapist can get. Another thing that will play a large role in determining a respiratory therapist salary is what type of environment that they choose to work in.
Therapists who work in the home care setting generally make the least because they would not be capable of performing some of the more complicated procedures. Those that work in hospitals or other institutional settings tend to be paid more due to their higher skill sets and higher responsibility levels.
Naturally, salary levels will also fluctuate depending on who the employer is. Private agencies often will offer larger salaries, not to mention better benefits and other incentives. Hospitals pay better than home care jobs, but this is likely to vary even within the same hospital, depending on which area of the hospital the respiratory therapist is employed.
How much does a respiratory therapist make?
According to Salary.com, there are four levels of salary averages for a respiratory therapist:
- Respiratory Therapist—Home Care national average salary is $46,793
- Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) national average salary is $47,702
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) national average salary is $58,441
- Respiratory Therapy Supervisor national average salary is $64,610
At the home care level, a respiratory therapist would be doing things like administering breathing treatments, maintaining nebulizer and oxygen equipment, and doing a variety of lung function tests and therapies. This level would not be doing diagnostic testing or coming up with treatment plans very often because they wouldn't be under a physician's direct supervision.
As the therapist continues their education and training, they are able to command a higher salary due to the greater complexities of their capabilities. An RRT would likely work in a hospital or nursing home setting, under the direct guidance of doctors. Their skills and job duties could include helping to maintain life support equipment, inserting chest tubes and direct lines, and being able to do a variety of testing procedures.
Naturally, the respiratory therapist salary would be higher if they became employed in a supervisory capacity. Not only would they need to have advanced skills in providing respiratory therapy, but they would also need management and administration skills.
