All About Respiratory Therapy Technicians
Career Description Provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
Life As a Respiratory Therapy Technician
- Work with patients in areas such as the emergency rooms, neonatal or pediatric intensive care, or surgical intensive care, treating conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or pneumonia.
- Recommend or review bedside procedures, x-rays, or laboratory tests.
- Perform diagnostic procedures to assess the severity of respiratory dysfunction in patients.
- Monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.
- Assess patients’ response to treatments and modify treatments according to protocol if necessary.
- Interview or examine patients to collect clinical data.
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Qualities of a Respiratory Therapy Technician
Respiratory Therapy Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Related Job Titles
- Respiratory Care Assistant (RCA)
- Medical Technician
- Respiratory Supervisor
- Oxygen Therapy Technician
- Respiratory Therapy Technologist
What Kind of Respiratory Therapy Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 10,800 jobs for Respiratory Therapy Technician in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Respiratory Therapy Technician.
The states with the most job growth for Respiratory Therapy Technician are Maryland, Texas, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Illinois, or Indiana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Respiratory Therapy Technicians Salary
The salary for Respiratory Therapy Technicians ranges between about $31,240 and $73,530 a year.
Respiratory Therapy Technicians who work in Nevada, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Respiratory Therapy Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,740 |
| Arizona | $58,900 |
| Arkansas | $47,050 |
| California | $48,150 |
| Colorado | $42,070 |
| Connecticut | $54,680 |
| Florida | $49,670 |
| Georgia | $48,160 |
| Hawaii | $58,770 |
| Illinois | $56,340 |
| Indiana | $49,780 |
| Iowa | $44,690 |
| Kansas | $45,390 |
| Kentucky | $42,850 |
| Louisiana | $49,010 |
| Maryland | $61,220 |
| Massachusetts | $60,060 |
| Michigan | $38,420 |
| Mississippi | $45,730 |
| Missouri | $53,470 |
| Nebraska | $46,820 |
| Nevada | $78,380 |
| New Hampshire | $51,850 |
| New Jersey | $64,260 |
| New York | $56,780 |
| Ohio | $46,980 |
| Oregon | $55,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,430 |
| South Carolina | $49,520 |
| Tennessee | $40,560 |
| Texas | $51,930 |
| Utah | $49,680 |
| Virginia | $52,830 |
| Washington | $58,190 |
| West Virginia | $51,700 |
| Wisconsin | $37,290 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Respiratory Therapy Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Respiratory Therapy Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
How do I Become a Respiratory Therapy Technician?
Education needed to be a Respiratory Therapy Technician:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Respiratory Therapy Technician?
Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Respiratory Therapy Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
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