If you decide to become a respiratory therapist, you can expect to work hard—but the rewards will be well worth it. Not only will you make an excellent wage, but you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to improve people’s health and their lives.

AND…

You will know that you work in a secure profession.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the respiratory therapist profession will grow much faster than average at a rate of 21% in the coming decade. This is especially true for those respiratory therapists who work with babies or have cardiopulmonary skills.

Why the Job Growth?

One of the biggest reasons that respiratory therapists are needed now—and will be needed much more in the future—is the aging of the population.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average life expectancy for an American in 2012 will be 78.3 years. Medical advances and life style changes have contributed to a greater population of middle aged to elderly people—and these people who are more likely to need the services of a respiratory therapist.

What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do?

In simple terms, respiratory therapists help people to breathe. But there is nothing simple about the important—and even life saving—duties of a respiratory therapist.

Some of the many complex duties of a respiratory therapist include:

• Running diagnostic tests on patients
• Interviewing and evaluating a patient’s respiratory ailments
• Treating premature infants who cannot yet breathe on their own
• Treating elderly sufferers of pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
• Connecting patients who cannot breathe on their own to incubators and closely monitoring them
• Working with physicians to develop an appropriate healthcare plan for the patient
• Performing chest physiotherapy—a process that removes mucus from the lungs—on patients

In addition, some new fields that are opening up to respiratory therapists include:

• Pulmonary therapy
• Polysomnography—diagnosing such sleeping breathing disorders as sleep apnea
• Rapid response team member in a hospital
• Directing smoking cessation programs

Respiratory Therapist Salary

A respiratory therapist’s salary varies quite a bit depending upon the type of workplace—i.e hospital or doctor’s offices—and the focus of their practice. They typically earn between $39,990 and $63,510.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• The median annual salary of respiratory therapists is $54,280
• The highest 10 percent earned more than $73,400
• The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,000

In 2010, the median annual income of respiratory therapists who worked in medical and surgical hospitals was $54,840.

But there is another level to the respiratory therapy profession—the technicians.

Respiratory therapy technicians generally have less responsibility that a full respiratory therapist, a fact that is reflected in their salaries.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• The mean annual salary of respiratory therapy technicians is $46,340
• The middle 50 percent earned $45,210
• The highest 10 percent earned more than $65,500
• The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,000

Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database.

Top Respiratory Therapist Schools

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  Grand Canyon University

  If you are driven to pursue a higher standard of success and require flexibility in your schedule to get there, Grand Canyon University, one of the Top 10 Christian colleges, is the right choice for you! GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students, as well as the working professional. With our cutting-edge curriculum, you will gain the real-world experience you need to succeed in today’s global marketplace. Online and campus-based bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are offered through the College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Ken Blanchard College of Business, and the College of Liberal Arts.

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  Platt College

  Find out where the future can take you with an outstanding college education. At Platt College, you’ll find the career-specific programs and training for the careers you really want. Come explore a variety of career paths that fit your lifestyle in a positive learning environment that combines real-world experience with small, private college instruction.

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  Carrington College

  Carrington College®, a recognized leader in private education, opened in 1976 and currently provides practical, real-world education to more than 4,000 students annually. Carrington College® offers small classes with hands-on learning taught by experienced faculty.

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  ATI Career Training Center

  For more than three decades, ATI has operated schools throughout Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma with the primary objective of preparing its graduates for rewarding careers. These exciting employment opportunities include such fields as health care, personal fitness and wellness, business technology, information technology, automotive repair, air conditioning and refrigeration repair, and welding.

  At ATI you are a member of our extended family. Faculty and staff work with you to achieve your educational and career training objectives and secure the necessary skills you need to be successful in today’s competitive workplace environment.

  We have the experience, the tools, the instructors and the student support and benefits to help you change your life and earn a new career! Make today “the first day of the rest of your life” & make the call that will change your life and get you on the right track toward a rewarding future.

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  Sanford-Brown Institute

  Sanford-Brown can help prepare you for a rewarding career in health and dental care, business, paralegal, criminal justice or information technology. With nearly 20 campuses in the Sanford-Brown Institute and Sanford-Brown College divisions, selecting a school that suits your particular career training and education needs is easy.

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  Sanford-Brown College

  For over 140 years, Sanford-Brown College has provided career-oriented postsecondary educational programs. Our institution offers focused, innovative, quality short-term programs in the fields of business and healthcare. At Sanford-Brown, we have focused our study programs, which enable you the opportunity to develop your skills effectively to meet your specific career goals. Plus, our programs focus on the essential concepts and skills most employers look for in entry-level employees. Our goal is to provide you with the practical information and experience you need to get your foot in the door. The secret to our success is that we do not require students to take courses that are not directly supportive of their career goals.

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  Concorde Career College

  With over 15 years of experience in preparing adults for rewarding careers, Concorde is a recognized leader in training Healthcare Professionals. We offer short, manageable programs with day and evening classes to fit your busy schedule.

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  Kaplan Career Institute

  At Kaplan Career Institute, we provide affordable, career-focused programs that not only meet the demands of the market, but also the demands of your busy life. We offer day and evening classes to accommodate your busy schedule. Our accelerated curricula give you the opportunity to earn a diploma in as little as 9 to 15 months or an associate’s degree in less than 2 years. Our instructors have professional experience and provide an inside look into some of today’s hottest careers.

  Kaplan Higher Education or its authorized agents and representatives may contact me via email or telephone to discuss these and other educational opportunities in the future.

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  American Career College

  American Career College (ACC) offers training to students interested in pursuing a career in the fast-growing healthcare industry.* ACC’s three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County all offer hands-on training with the same tools and technology found in professional healthcare facilities.

  ACC’s faculty and staff are committed to helping students achieve their educational goals. Our faculty members draw upon their own experiences in the healthcare industry to provide our students with in-depth training and education. All programs are a blend of classroom and hands-on training, with many programs ending with an externship in a local healthcare facility.

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  Keiser University

  At Keiser University we are here to help you succeed by providing the professional and academic foundation to meet your educational goals and objectives. Keiser University continues to be a valuable partner to employers, the community, and, above all, a valued choice for students serious about their education and career.