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Respiratory Therapy Technician

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All About Respiratory Therapy Technicians

Occupation Description Provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

Respiratory Therapy Technician Responsibilities

  • Set equipment controls to regulate the flow of oxygen, gases, mists, or aerosols.
  • Assess patients’ response to treatments and modify treatments according to protocol if necessary.
  • Follow and enforce safety rules applying to equipment.
  • Interview or examine patients to collect clinical data.
  • Collect and analyze arterial blood gas samples.
  • Clean, sterilize, check, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.

Respiratory Therapy Technician Needed Skills

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.

Types of Respiratory Therapy Technician

  • Respiratory Therapy Technician (RTT)
  • Registered Respiratory Therapy Technician
  • Oxygen Equipment Technician
  • Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
  • Respiratory Technician

Is There Job Demand for Respiratory Therapy Technicians?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 10,800 jobs in the United States for Respiratory Therapy Technician. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Respiratory Therapy Technician.

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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.

Respiratory Therapy Technician Salary

The average yearly salary of a Respiratory Therapy Technician ranges between $31,240 and $73,530.

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Respiratory Therapy Technicians who work in Nevada, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Respiratory Therapy Technicians in different U.S. states.

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

What Tools & Technology do Respiratory Therapy Technicians Use?

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?

Individuals working as a Respiratory Therapy Technician have obtained the following education levels:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Respiratory Therapy Technicians Are Employed

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Respiratory Therapy Technicians work in the following industries:

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Similar 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:

References:

Image Credit: via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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