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Occupation Profile
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Occupation: Respiratory Therapists Change Occupation
State: Pennsylvania Change State
Profile Content: (content listed below) Modify Profile Content
Wages  |  Employment Trends  |  Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities  |  Tasks & Activities
Tools & Technology  |  Education & Training  |  Related Occupations
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RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS: PENNSYLVANIA

Occupation Description

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.


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Respiratory Therapists
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State and National Wages

Location Pay
Period		 2008
10% 25% Median 75% 90%
United States Hourly $18.23 $21.39 $25.10 $29.67 $33.56
Yearly $37,900 $44,500 $52,200 $61,700 $69,800
Pennsylvania Hourly $19.00 $21.61 $24.75 $28.92 $31.79
Yearly $39,500 $44,900 $51,500 $60,200 $66,100
Annual Wages for Respiratory Therapists

United States - $69,800 United States - $52,200 United States - $37,900 Pennsylvania - $66,100 Pennsylvania - $51,500 Pennsylvania - $39,500
  • High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
  • Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
  • Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Hourly Wages for Respiratory Therapists

United States - $33.56 United States - $25.1 United States - $18.23 Pennsylvania - $31.79 Pennsylvania - $24.75 Pennsylvania - $19
  • High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
  • Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
  • Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Workforce Statistics

State and National Trends

United States Employment Percent
Change		 Job Openings 1
2008 2018
Respiratory therapists 105,900 128,100 +21% 4,140
Pennsylvania Employment Percent
Change		 Job Openings 1
2006 2016
Respiratory therapists 4,700 5,550 +18% 150
1Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Respiratory Therapists.

Knowledge:

  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Skills:

  • 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.
  • Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • 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.

Abilities:

  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Source: Occupational Information Network: Respiratory Therapists.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Respiratory Therapists.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

  • Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, and lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
  • Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel.
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
  • Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment.
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
  • Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
  • Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
  • Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
  • Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
  • Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
  • Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, and assistants.
  • Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac and pulmonary research and to diagnose disorders.
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures and related duties.

Generalized Work Activities:

  • Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Detailed Work Activities:

  • administer medications or treatments
  • analyze medical data
  • analyze patient activity
  • assist patient in performing breathing exercises
  • collect clinical data
  • communicate technical information
  • direct and coordinate treatment program activities
  • document medical prognosis
  • draw blood
  • evaluate patient response to therapy
  • follow life support procedures
  • follow patient care procedures
  • identify body response variations
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • maintain therapy equipment
  • make decisions
  • make presentations on health or medical issues
  • monitor medical oxygen equipment
  • observe patient condition
  • perform safety inspections in health care setting
  • plan therapy treatment program
  • position patient for therapy
  • practice preventive procedures in medical therapy setting
  • set up incubators in hospitals
  • set up medical oxygen equipment
  • take vital signs
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of medical terminology
  • use medical equipment in direct patient care
  • use respiratory equipment
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses

Source: Occupational Information Network: Respiratory Therapists.

Tools and Technology

Respiratory Therapists  View Detailed Report

Tools:

  • Arterial blood gas monitors or accessories - Blood gas kits, Blood gas machines
  • Flow sensors or regulators or components - Oxygen flowmeters, Oxygen regulators
  • Medical oxygen masks or parts - Medical oxygen masks, Oral airways, Oxygen masks
  • Nebulizers or accessories - Aerosol masks, Nebulizers, Small particle aerosol generators, Tracheotomy masks
  • Spirometers or its accessories or its supplies - Incentive spirometers, Pulmonary function testing machines, Wright's spirometers

Technology:

  • Electronic mail software - Microsoft Outlook
  • Internet browser software - Netscape software
  • Medical software - Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel

Source: Occupational Information Network: Respiratory Therapists.

Education and Training

Occupation: Respiratory Therapists
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Associate degree
Related Instructional Programs: Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

Distribution of Educational Attainment
Occupation Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is
Less than high school diploma High school diploma or equivalent Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Master's degree Doctoral or professional degree
Respiratory therapists 0.3% 2.6% 12.2% 56.8% 23.6% 3% 1.4%
Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners 0.6% 2.6% 3.6% 8.3% 18.9% 17.8% 48.2%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 1.2% 10.4% 15.4% 15.4% 20.7% 11.6% 25.2%
Total, All Occupations 10.7% 27.6% 20.6% 8.9% 19.4% 8.3% 4.5%

Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.

Find education and training programs where you can earn a certificate, diploma, or award in less than 2 years with the Short-Term Training Finder.

Access additional Education Resources in the Career Resource Library.

Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/homeframe.asp?function=trainprov

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements

Web Resources

The following resources are related to occupations in the job family
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
Health Technologists and Technicians
Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
Health Technologists and Technicians
Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations


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