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Respiratory Therapy Technician

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What Do Respiratory Therapy Technician Do?

Respiratory Therapy Technician Definition Provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.

A Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapy Technician

  • Explain treatment procedures to patients.
  • Assess patients' response to treatments and modify treatments according to protocol if necessary.
  • Keep records of patients' therapy, completing all necessary forms.
  • Perform diagnostic procedures to assess the severity of respiratory dysfunction in patients.
  • Teach or oversee other workers who provide respiratory care services.
  • Use ventilators or various oxygen devices or aerosol and breathing treatments in the provision of respiratory therapy.

Respiratory Therapy Technician Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Respiratory Therapy Technicians say are important on the job.

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

  • Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
  • Respiratory Care Technician
  • Oxygen Equipment Technician
  • Life Support Technician
  • Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)

Is There Job Demand for Respiratory Therapy Technicians?

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.

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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.

How Much Does a Respiratory Therapy Technician Make?

The typical yearly salary for Respiratory Therapy Technicians is somewhere 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 to Become a Respiratory Therapy Technician

Education needed to be a Respiratory Therapy Technician:

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What work experience do I need to become a Respiratory Therapy Technician?

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Respiratory Therapy Technicians Sector

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Below are examples of industries where Respiratory Therapy Technicians work:

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Career changers with experience as a Respiratory Therapy Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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