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Respiratory Therapists in Texas

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Respiratory Therapists in Texas

Considering working as a Respiratory Therapists in Texas? Here’s what you need to know. Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

What do Respiratory Therapists Make in Texas?

For respiratory therapists working in Texas, the typical annual salary is $77,550 per year (or roughly $37.28/hour).Annual wages span from $61,130 at the 10th percentile to $94,640 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $61,130 $29.39
25th percentile $65,480 $31.48
Median (50th) $77,550 $37.28
75th percentile $84,480 $40.61
90th percentile $94,640 $45.50
Salary ranges for Respiratory Therapists in Texas

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Texas compared to the national average — is 0.97.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, respiratory therapists earn a median of $128,345 per year ($61.70/hour), lower than the Texas median.

Respiratory Therapists earnings in Texas vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 3,445,190 respiratory therapists across the United States. In Texas alone, around 11,860 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 1,700 respiratory therapists.

Respiratory Therapists in Texas vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Respiratory Therapists

Top Texas Metros for Respiratory Therapists

The metro areas below employ the most respiratory therapists in Texas.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 3,380 $77,680
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,950 $81,640
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 950 $75,920
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 770 $79,000
El Paso, TX 330 $71,970
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 290 $63,040
Corpus Christi, TX 250 $69,570
Killeen-Temple, TX 250 $76,340
Tyler, TX 250 $75,830
Lubbock, TX 220 $65,110
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 140 $68,920
Amarillo, TX 130 $77,490
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 100 $61,220
Texarkana, TX-AR 100 $70,250
Waco, TX 100 $70,160
Abilene, TX 90 $67,570
Longview, TX 80 $76,490
Victoria, TX 70 $76,360
Sherman-Denison, TX 60 $72,130

Top States for Respiratory Therapists Employment

These states have the highest employment of respiratory therapists work.

State Number Employed
California 18,310
Texas 11,860
Florida 8,840
New York 6,780
Ohio 6,460
Pennsylvania 5,850
Illinois 5,450
Georgia 5,030
North Carolina 4,440
Michigan 4,150
Indiana 3,330
Missouri 3,270
New Jersey 3,200
Tennessee 3,070
Arizona 3,070
Virginia 2,960
Kentucky 2,860
Louisiana 2,280
Alabama 2,250
Massachusetts 2,140

Highest-Paying States for Respiratory Therapists

The highest-paying states for respiratory therapists.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $104,240
New York $103,820
California $102,120
New Jersey $98,020
Washington $97,150
Massachusetts $96,940
Oregon $96,130
Hawaii $94,670
Alaska $94,210
Minnesota $88,040

Skills

Top respiratory therapists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Social Perceptiveness  3.6 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.6 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  4.3 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  4.3 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.9 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.7 / 5
0
5
Psychology  3.4 / 5
0
5
Biology  3.2 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for respiratory therapists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  3.9 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • 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.
  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • 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.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
  • Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.

Work Activities

  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Getting Information
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Allied Health Professions

Careers similar to respiratory therapists include:

Also Known As

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist, Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Hospital Respiratory Therapist, Inhalation Therapist, NICU Respiratory Therapist (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist), Oxygen Therapist, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Respiratory Therapist (RT), Staff Respiratory Therapist, Staff Therapist, Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist (Travel RRT), Travel Respiratory Therapist.

References

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