Respiratory Therapist Salary
Respiratory therapist salary levels are continuing to be on the rise. This fact is due to the supply of patients that are in need of respiratory therapy services.
Respiratory therapists are also known as respiratory care specialists. They evaluate and treat the patients. These patients have issues with cardiopulmonary or chronic breathing issues. Having the ability to work with these types of patients will increase a respiratory therapist salary.
RTs work under the direction of a physician. Respiratory therapists are responsible for respiratory therapeutic treatments and diagnostic evaluations. The respiratory therapist supervises the work of the respiratory therapy techs as well. They collaborate with physicians and other healthcare resources to assist in devising patients care. Respiratory therapists also deliver complicated therapies such as taking care of a patient on life support in hospitals.
Respiratory therapists give evaluations of equipment as well as patients. When a patient appears to be have labored breathing o the therapist will act accordingly. For instance, the therapist may notice that there is a problem with a patient’s ph level in their blood. If this happens the RT must make a change to the oxygen delivery to the ventilator system. The respiratory therapist also acts as a mechanic and if the equipment is malfunctioning they must recognize that and make adjustments. So you can see that this career is complicated and the more experience you have the more respiratory therapy salary one can demand.
Yearly averages for respiratory therapy salary have risen over the last few years. The respiratory therapist salary average is somewhere around $55,000 per year. Some respiratory therapist salary amounts are higher for those with more experience. Also the RT salaries paid in larger cities are typically higher because cost of living is also higher. So where you live will play into your respiratory therapy salary.
The bottom 10 percent of respiratory therapists earned around $40,000 last year. It appears that the highest salaries for respiratory therapists are around $72,000 currently.
Employment of respiratory therapists is growing. By 2018 it appears there is a 21 percent projection of growth. This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States. This is considered faster than average for all careers. So this increasing demand is occurring. I would say that this is due to the fact that our population is growing older and getting sicker.
Elderly individuals tend to develop cardiopulmonary disease and need treatment. This demand growth is causing a shortage in respiratory therapy services. In turn, it is also driving the respiratory therapy salary up as you can logically deduct.
Older people are more often impacted by respiratory disorders and cardiopulmonary diseases. Examples of this are pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and heart disease. When the elderly population increases the need for respiratory therapists is also increasing.
Technical advances in breathable medications and in the medical equipment used in the treatment of lung transplant patients as well as premature babies are also increasing in demand. Therefore the services of a therapist are needed more than ever and the respiratory therapy salary will bump up in step.
Respiratory Therapist Salary and Benefits In Detail
There are three primary variables that determine a respiratory therapist salary.
1. Location of respiratory therapy job is critical. If you live in California you are likely going to make more than someone that lives in Georgia.
2. Respiratory therapist salary is higher for those with more than a few years experience. You are likely more profitable for the office that employs you if your experience is high. Therefore, you would be entitled to a higher respiratory therapist salary.
3. The last factor that will determine your respiratory therapy salary is your ability to sell your skills to your future employer. If they believe you know what you are talking about and if you negotiate a higher respiratory therapist salary then you will be compensated at a higher rate.
The job outlook for this career as a respiratory therapist is good. If you are working as an RT and you have a degree and certifications then you are most likely to get the highest respiratory therapist salary.Also, remember to tout your intangibles other than your technical skills as a respiratory therapist. This type of demonstration will increase your chances for the highest respiratory therapist salary possible. Remember too, that a number of opportunities will be had outside of hospitals.
These jobs will be in home healthcare services, physician’s offices and in the employment services industry. This is where you can work as a contractor. This could yield a substantial respiratory therapist salary at least by the hour.
Read more about respiratory therapist salary information throughout this site.
