Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists (RTs) stay durable because the job is already technology-heavy and still needs a trained person at the bedside. The labor market is about 139,600 RT jobs; projected growth is 12.1%, and annual openings are about 8,800. Ventilators, monitors, alarms, dashboards, and protocols can automate pieces of breathing support, but RTs still set up equipment, assess patients, troubleshoot changes, support codes, handle blood gases, educate patients, and coordinate with nurses and physicians. The main weakness is that demand is tied to hospital budgets, reimbursement, and staffing models, not only patient need.

This is a strong two-year clinical path, but the work can be intense. Intensive care, emergency departments, neonatal and pediatric units, pulmonary function labs, transport, sleep, and home respiratory roles differ in stress, schedule, and pay. State licensure and National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentials matter, and some hospitals strongly prefer the registered respiratory therapist credential. Before enrolling, compare local clinical placements, credential expectations, night/weekend schedules, and whether nearby hospitals staff RTs broadly or use lean coverage. Program rotations should show real ICU, emergency, and neonatal exposure, not only classroom equipment.