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What You Need to Know About Respiratory Therapy Technician
Position Description Provide respiratory care under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
A Day in the Life of a Respiratory Therapy Technician
- Clean, sterilize, check, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.
- Explain treatment procedures to patients.
- Assess patients’ response to treatments and modify treatments according to protocol if necessary.
- Monitor patients during treatment and report any unusual reactions to the respiratory therapist.
- Set equipment controls to regulate the flow of oxygen, gases, mists, or aerosols.
- Collect and analyze arterial blood gas samples.
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Respiratory Therapy Technician Skills
These are the skills Respiratory Therapy Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Other Respiratory Therapy Technician Job Titles
- Respiratory Technician
- Registered Respiratory Technician
- Life Support Technician
- Pulmonary Function Technician (PF Technician)
- Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)
Job Opportunities for Respiratory Therapy Technicians
There were about 10,800 jobs for Respiratory Therapy Technician in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Respiratory Therapy Technician
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.
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 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?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Respiratory Therapy Technician?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Respiratory Therapy Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
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