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Learn How to Become a Respiratory Therapist: Education & Licensing

Learn about a respiratory therapist career, the required education, licensing and salary.

By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: December 4, 2025

To pursue a career as a respiratory therapist, you typically need to complete either an Associates degree in Respiratory Care or a Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care. After completing your education, you’ll need to pass credentialing examinations and obtain state licensure. These requirements enable you to qualify for employment in this rapidly growing field and make a meaningful impact on patients’ respiratory health.

Respiratory Therapist At a Glance

What you’ll do: You might work in the intensive or critical care unit, helping patients with a variety of respiratory illnesses to breathe normally, or work with a variety of people with chronic lung diseases. Some have cystic fibrosis, some are elderly or premature infants, and some need long-term care for diseases such as emphysema. You will measure patients’ lung capacity, set up and monitor ventilator equipment, test patients for lung abnormalities, assist patients with rehabilitative exercises.

Where you’ll work: Most work in hospitals, but a growing number are employed by nursing homes, home care agencies, respiratory therapy clinics, and emergency centers.

Degree you’ll need: Associate degree at minimum; bachelor’s degree preferred

Median annual salary: $82,280

What is it like going back to school as an adult? Find out in this real respiratory therapist student’s story.

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Median Annual Respiratory Therapist Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025 Occupational Employment Statistics reports the following median annual salaries for respiratory therapists.

Respiratory Therapists

National data

Median Salary: $82,280

Projected job growth: 12.1%

10th Percentile: $63,660

25th Percentile: $74,520

75th Percentile: $98,730

90th Percentile: $118,050

Projected job growth: 12.1%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$66,150	$50,250	$81,030
Alaska	$97,950	$80,250	$114,590
Arizona	$79,780	$64,780	$99,180
Arkansas	$73,870	$59,550	$93,480
California	$104,820	$77,010	$145,510
Colorado	$86,220	$66,560	$109,070
Connecticut	$85,230	$72,410	$121,620
Delaware	$91,080	$79,210	$109,890
District of Columbia	$111,950	$77,240	$127,400
Florida	$81,160	$64,240	$100,310
Georgia	$83,700	$65,050	$112,320
Hawaii	$94,210	$80,130	$102,780
Idaho	$78,460	$63,540	$95,290
Illinois	$84,090	$64,480	$100,100
Indiana	$79,730	$62,730	$94,980
Iowa	$74,760	$62,860	$86,510
Kansas	$76,970	$60,470	$94,600
Kentucky	$72,750	$58,330	$92,540
Louisiana	$75,240	$61,520	$91,200
Maine	$82,470	$61,060	$98,470
Maryland	$88,960	$69,550	$106,430
Massachusetts	$102,170	$80,330	$123,930
Michigan	$79,850	$64,770	$90,210
Minnesota	$98,710	$79,060	$110,050
Mississippi	$63,270	$50,180	$80,460
Missouri	$78,390	$60,950	$95,730
Montana	$81,190	$60,800	$92,890
Nebraska	$81,590	$64,100	$96,180
Nevada	$85,480	$65,150	$118,710
New Hampshire	$95,940	$80,490	$109,000
New Jersey	$100,810	$78,000	$123,370
New Mexico	$68,870	$61,990	$91,220
New York	$107,810	$81,270	$131,500
North Carolina	$80,090	$63,990	$99,520
North Dakota	$81,230	$65,770	$100,490
Ohio	$79,920	$65,580	$97,030
Oklahoma	$78,800	$64,380	$95,350
Oregon	$100,560	$81,490	$120,060
Pennsylvania	$78,490	$62,440	$95,520
Rhode Island	$86,900	$73,240	$122,120
South Carolina	$77,740	$63,700	$90,670
South Dakota	$68,240	$48,530	$88,830
Tennessee	$72,140	$57,860	$88,060
Texas	$79,540	$61,310	$99,690
Utah	$80,650	$61,860	$101,340
Vermont	$83,820	$50,310	$99,940
Virginia	$82,910	$65,540	$106,470
Washington	$101,130	$76,080	$127,520
West Virginia	$68,670	$52,940	$94,280
Wisconsin	$84,210	$70,520	$100,320
Wyoming	$79,330	$64,300	$91,840

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Respiratory Therapist Education

Respiratory therapists complete either 2-year associate’s degree or 4-year bachelor’s degree programs.

Upon graduation, you can choose to sit for a national exam to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After passing this exam, you can decide to sit for two additional tests to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Most respiratory therapist schools offer an accredited four-year or higher degree. However, there are associate’s degrees and certificate programs that can get you started. All states, except Alaska, require respiratory therapists to obtain a license in order to practice.

Respiratory Therapist: Licensing

Generally, to qualify for state licenses, you must graduate from an accredited respiratory therapist school and pass the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam. Certified Respiratory Therapists who graduated from advanced-level programs and who have met experience requirements can take the exams leading toward the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Certain specialty areas, such as intensive care units and supervisory positions, require CRT or RRT eligibility.

Your school advisor will be able to tell you what requirements have been set by the board of respiratory care examiners in your state.