What is the average salary for a respiratory care practitioner?
• The projected average salary of respiratory therapists working in the United States is over $56,000 per year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase faster than average over the next decade, primarily because the aging baby boom generation will increase the number of older people, who tend to suffer the most from respiratory conditions like pneumonia and COPD. The need for RTs is expected to grow by up to 26 percent. According to the 2009 Human Resources study from the AARC, the projected average annual earnings of RTs working in the U.S. is $62,223. In this study, and depending on the area of the country, therapists just beginning their careers reported average annual earnings ranging from $42,078-$47,297. In Rhode Island, CCRI graduates start at $22-25 per hour, and can earn as high as $30 per hour. An extra hourly rate (shift differential) is paid above the base rate for weekend and evening work.
