Respiratory Therapist Salary in 2026: What RTs Actually Earn

Respiratory Therapist Salary in 2026

Respiratory therapists (RTs) are essential members of the hospital clinical team, managing patients with breathing disorders, acute respiratory failure, and complex ventilator management in ICUs, emergency departments, and general floors. Despite being a critical specialty, RT compensation is frequently underappreciated relative to the clinical complexity of the role.

Respiratory Therapist Salary by Experience and Setting

Setting / Experience	Avg Annual Salary	Range
New grad RT (CRT / RRT, 0–2 years)	$52,000–$64,000	$48K–$72K
Staff RT — general hospital (3–7 years)	$65,000–$80,000	$58K–$90K
Experienced RT (8+ years)	$78,000–$95,000	$70K–$108K
ICU / Critical Care RT	$80,000–$98,000	$72K–$112K
Neonatal / Pediatric RT	$82,000–$100,000	$74K–$115K
Lead / Charge RT	$85,000–$105,000	$78K–$118K
RT Travel Therapist	$88,000–$125,000	$78K–$138K

RRT vs CRT: How Credentialing Affects Pay

Respiratory therapists hold either a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC):

• CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist): Entry-level credential; pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) exam at CRT cutoff. Minimum requirement for most staff RT positions.
• RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist): Advanced credential; pass TMC at the RRT cutoff (higher threshold) plus the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). Required for most ICU, neonatal, and lead RT positions. Pay premium: $3,000–$8,000/year at most hospitals.

Additional specialty credentials: RRT-NPS (neonatal/pediatric specialty), RRT-ACCS (adult critical care specialist). Each carries additional pay premium at facilities that recognize them.

What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do?

RT scope includes:

• Mechanical ventilator management — setting, adjusting, and weaning patients from ventilators in ICU and acute care
• Bronchodilator and nebulizer therapy for asthma, COPD, and acute respiratory distress
• Arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling and interpretation
• Intubation assistance and airway management (in many facilities, RTs perform direct intubations)
• CPAP/BiPAP management for obstructive sleep apnea and acute respiratory failure
• Chest physiotherapy and secretion clearance in CF and post-operative patients
• Neonatal resuscitation and NICU respiratory support (for NPS-credentialed RTs)
• Pulmonary function testing and interpretation

Respiratory Therapist Demand in 2026

RT demand is driven by COVID-19's lasting impact on respiratory workforce needs — the pandemic highlighted the critical role of respiratory therapists in managing patients on mechanical ventilation, and health systems have since expanded RT staffing. Additionally, chronic respiratory disease (COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis) prevalence increases with population aging, creating sustained demand at community hospitals.

Florida is an active RT hiring market. Health systems across the state recruit RTs for ICU, neonatal, and general hospital positions. The no-state-income-tax advantage is meaningful at RT income levels: a Florida RT earning $78,000 saves $3,900 annually compared to a 5% state income tax state. Southwest Florida hospitals in particular are recruiting experienced ICU and neonatal RTs for open positions.