Becoming a Respiratory Therapist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Grand Canyon University
is a US school (accredited) offering respiratory therapy courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
respiratory therapists,
respiratory specialists,
respiratory care specialists,
respiratory care practitioners,
certified respiratory therapists,
respiratory therapy technicians, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 107,270 people employed as
respiratory therapists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$54,200.
Respiratory therapy technicians make on average $45,680
per year and there are about 15,100
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Grand Canyon University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Respiratory Therapist
- hospital
- rehabilitation center
- respiratory therapy plateau medical center
- doctor's office
- operating room
- detox center
- medical centers
- treatment facilities
- schools
- colleges
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Respiratory Therapist
- competitive pay
- superior health coverage
- retirement savings plan
- weekly paycheck
- paid housing
- custom travel
- licensing assistance
- good job
- high demand for professionals
- chance to be successful
Potential Drawbacks
- you have to pay for expensive training
- you have to compete in a difficult job market
- you have to deal with sick people
- you have to purchase expensive uniforms and equipment
- you have to deal with angry doctors
- you have to possibly make a low salary
- you have to be physically fit
- you have to protect yourself from illness
- you have to get in to the respiratory therapist schooling program
- you have to compete with many others for a job
Related Professions to Consider
- doctor
- physician
- physician's assistant
- psychologist
- chemical therapist
- therapist
- Biofeedback Therapist
- physical therapist
- physical therapist assistant
- nurse
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Respiratory Therapist
- How well do you handle your career?
- How does it feel to be a repiratory therapist?
- How long did it take you to become a professional at this career?
- What are the different places respiratory therapist work at?
- How long did you have to study?
- What is one of the schools you recommend to study for an resspiratory therapist?
- What is one of the schools you recommend to study for an resspiratory therapist?
- Does your career take much of the time in your life?
- Whats the fun part of this career?
- Main symptoms of asthama?
Common Collaborating Professions
- medical doctor
- nurse
- nurse administrator
- X-ray specialist
- nutritionist
- pharmacist
- pharmacist
- physician
- medical equipment salesman
- anesthesiologist
Respiratory Therapist Training books
Respiratory Therapist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- alternative medicine
- clinical laboratory science
- communication disorders
- counseling
- dental hygiene
- health information technology
- health promotion
- health services
- healthcare administration
- healthcare management
Respiratory Therapist Salary Information
Category: Respiratory therapists
| Total # Employed in the US |
107,270 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.06/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.77 |
$21.78 |
$25.64 |
$30.08 |
$34.58 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$54,200 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $39,030 |
$45,300 |
$53,330 |
$62,570 |
$71,920 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
2.6% |
12.2% |
56.8% |
23.6% |
3.0% |
1.4% |
|
Respiratory therapists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$31.53/hr
|
$65,580
|
| North Dakota |
$31.51/hr
|
$65,540
|
| Mississippi |
$31.46/hr
|
$65,430
|
| New York |
$31.43/hr
|
$65,360
|
| Missouri |
$30.1/hr
|
$62,600
|
| Oklahoma |
$30.03/hr
|
$62,460
|
| Delaware |
$29.88/hr
|
$62,140
|
| Alaska |
$29.68/hr
|
$61,740
|
| Indiana |
$29.53/hr
|
$61,420
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.51/hr
|
$59,300
|
| Nebraska |
$28.49/hr
|
$59,260
|
| North Carolina |
$27.63/hr
|
$57,480
|
| Tennessee |
$27.05/hr
|
$56,250
|
| Virginia |
$27/hr
|
$56,160
|
| Florida |
$26.97/hr
|
$56,100
|
| Michigan |
$26.03/hr
|
$54,140
|
| Utah |
$26.01/hr
|
$54,110
|
| Connecticut |
$25.99/hr
|
$54,060
|
| Kansas |
$25.89/hr
|
$53,850
|
| Guam |
$25.8/hr
|
$53,650
|
| Puerto Rico |
$25.54/hr
|
$53,120
|
| Montana |
$24.93/hr
|
$51,860
|
| Wyoming |
$24.7/hr
|
$51,380
|
| Ohio |
$24.7/hr
|
$51,380
|
| Kentucky |
$24.28/hr
|
$50,500
|
| Oregon |
$24.27/hr
|
$50,480
|
| Nevada |
$24.08/hr
|
$50,090
|
| New Mexico |
$24.06/hr
|
$50,050
|
| South Carolina |
$24.04/hr
|
$50,010
|
| Idaho |
$24.03/hr
|
$49,980
|
| Hawaii |
$24.02/hr
|
$49,960
|
| Washington |
$24/hr
|
$49,920
|
| Massachusetts |
$23.42/hr
|
$48,700
|
| New Hampshire |
$23.07/hr
|
$47,980
|
| New Jersey |
$23.05/hr
|
$47,950
|
| Iowa |
$22.98/hr
|
$47,800
|
| California |
$22.98/hr
|
$47,800
|
| Maine |
$22.8/hr
|
$47,430
|
| West Virginia |
$22.72/hr
|
$47,250
|
| South Dakota |
$22.62/hr
|
$47,060
|
| Arkansas |
$22.45/hr
|
$46,690
|
| Wisconsin |
$22.25/hr
|
$46,270
|
| Alabama |
$21.87/hr
|
$45,480
|
| Louisiana |
$21.85/hr
|
$45,450
|
| Maryland |
$21.43/hr
|
$44,580
|
| Pennsylvania |
$21.06/hr
|
$43,800
|
Category: Respiratory therapy technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
15,100 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$21.96/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.82 |
$17.28 |
$21.49 |
$26.37 |
$31.26 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$45,680 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,740 |
$35,930 |
$44,700 |
$54,850 |
$65,020 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.5% |
27.8% |
34.1% |
19.0% |
14.1% |
1.4% |
1.1% |
|
Respiratory therapy technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$32.69/hr
|
$67,990
|
| Mississippi |
$31.41/hr
|
$65,340
|
| North Dakota |
$28.84/hr
|
$59,990
|
| Puerto Rico |
$28.54/hr
|
$59,360
|
| North Carolina |
$27.79/hr
|
$57,810
|
| Oklahoma |
$26.75/hr
|
$55,650
|
| Colorado |
$26.43/hr
|
$54,980
|
| Delaware |
$25.09/hr
|
$52,190
|
| Missouri |
$24.13/hr
|
$50,180
|
| Kentucky |
$23.2/hr
|
$48,260
|
| Utah |
$22.9/hr
|
$47,640
|
| Nebraska |
$22.77/hr
|
$47,350
|
| Michigan |
$22.56/hr
|
$46,920
|
| Hawaii |
$21.99/hr
|
$45,750
|
| Massachusetts |
$21.72/hr
|
$45,180
|
| Pennsylvania |
$21.7/hr
|
$45,140
|
| Idaho |
$21.26/hr
|
$44,220
|
| Kansas |
$21.09/hr
|
$43,870
|
| Connecticut |
$20.83/hr
|
$43,320
|
| Iowa |
$20.81/hr
|
$43,290
|
| Wyoming |
$20.75/hr
|
$43,160
|
| South Carolina |
$20.03/hr
|
$41,660
|
| Oregon |
$19.96/hr
|
$41,510
|
| Maryland |
$19.83/hr
|
$41,250
|
| Montana |
$19.83/hr
|
$41,240
|
| California |
$18.74/hr
|
$38,980
|
| Ohio |
$18.73/hr
|
$38,950
|
| Arkansas |
$18.33/hr
|
$38,120
|
| New Hampshire |
$18.19/hr
|
$37,830
|
| Louisiana |
$18.18/hr
|
$37,820
|
| Wisconsin |
$18.11/hr
|
$37,660
|
| Washington |
$17.91/hr
|
$37,250
|
| Nevada |
$17.89/hr
|
$37,210
|
| Guam |
$17.88/hr
|
$37,180
|
| Alabama |
$17.8/hr
|
$37,010
|
| Maine |
$17.8/hr
|
$37,020
|
| South Dakota |
$17.76/hr
|
$36,940
|
| New Jersey |
$16.67/hr
|
$34,670
|
