Respiratory Therapists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Respiratory Therapists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Respiratory Therapists earn a median salary of $80,450 per year, ranking in the top 23% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +12.1% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do respiratory therapists earn?

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists is $80,450. That puts respiratory therapists at #187 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is respiratory therapists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for respiratory therapists is +12.1%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 139K positions in 2024 to 156K in 2034, a net change of 17K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.

What do respiratory therapists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working respiratory therapists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
2. 2.Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
3. 3.Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
4. 4.Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
5. 5.Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
6. 6.Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
7. 7.Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
8. 8.Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.

Top skills for respiratory therapists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become respiratory therapist?

Becoming a respiratory therapist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Family Medicine Physicians
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• General Internal Medicine Physicians
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• Dentists, All Other Specialists
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• Nurse Anesthetists
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• Pediatricians, General
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• Dentists, General
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Common questions parents ask about respiratory therapists