Education

• Respiratory therapists must complete an associate’s degree program to secure an entry-level position. Supervisory positions may require the completion of a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Respiratory therapists may work for hospitals, out patient care centers, or for home healthcare providers. Professionals in this occupation normally work 40 hour per week and shifts can include night or weekend hours.
  
  

Duties

• A respiratory therapist runs blood tests and performs manual testing procedures to evaluate how well a patient is breathing and how much oxygen is present in the patient’s blood. Professionals in this occupation use oxygen tests and aerosol medications to ensure patients receive enough oxygen.
  
  

Income

• Respiratory therapists can expect to earn an average hourly wage of $26.06 and an average yearly salary figure of $54,200, according to the May 2009 statistics released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  
  

Career Outlook

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 21 percent increase in respiratory therapist positions during the 2008 through 2018 time period.