Respiratory Therapists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Assesses people with breathing disorders, then sets up and runs equipment such as mechanical ventilators, gas-delivery devices, and aerosol generators to the prescribed settings. Emergency work can include artificial respiration, chest compressions, or help with CPR. During treatment, vital signs and blood-gas results are watched, problems are flagged to a physician, and charts stay current; equipment is inspected, cleaned, and tested so it remains safe. The work is done on a care team with physicians and nurses. Better for people who want technical equipment work, quick decisions when someone is in distress, and close monitoring of how a body responds.
Typical education: Associate’s Degree (2-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$82'280
Median Wage Market Position
$82'280
What you might do
- Set up and operate ventilators and breathing devices
- Monitor vital signs and blood gas changes
- Read prescriptions and assess breathing problems
- Give emergency care, including CPR when needed
- Relay blood analysis results to the physician
- Inspect, clean, and test respiratory equipment
Skills that matter
- Emergency breathing support and CPR
- Setup of ventilators and aerosol devices
- Watching vitals and blood-gas changes
- Reading prescriptions to assess condition
- Relaying lab results to physicians
- Inspecting and maintaining therapy equipment
AI & the future of this role
Managing ventilators, airway emergencies, and bedside assessments relies on tactile skill and rapid clinical judgment under liability. Decision-support software could assist monitoring, yet hands-on care and aging-related demand tend to keep this work resilient.
Does Respiratory Therapists fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details