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As the U.S. population continues to age, demand for respiratory therapy technicians is expected to increase, as more and more elderly patients are in need of diagnostic services related to cardiopulmonary disease. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an impressive 21 percent increase in employment in the decade from 2008 and 2018, making training as a respiratory therapy technician a solid investment in your future.

Respiratory Therapy Technician Salary and Education

As of 2009, the median respiratory therapy technician salary amounted to $44,700 or $21.49 per hour, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The highest-paying states for this profession are Nevada, Maryland, New Jersey, and Vermont, where salaries hover around $60,000 annually. The overwhelming majority of respiratory therapy technicians work in hospitals. The states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky have the highest concentration of health care workers in this field.

The minimum educational requirement to work as a respiratory therapy technician is successful completion of an associate's degree, although advancement opportunities are more plentiful for those who hold bachelor's degrees. The vast majority of U.S. states, with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska, require respiratory therapy technicians to hold a state-issued license, which is issued after certification requirements have been met. This process is managed nationwide by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Supervisory and specialty positions may require a separate certification known as Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), for which a specific educational background and separate exams are necessary.