Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Respiratory Therapist

Care for patients who have trouble breathing — from asthma to COPD to trauma. Work with ventilators and other cardiopulmonary equipment.

$80,450/yr median

$61,900$108,820

Much Faster Than AvgModerateUnion: ModerateEntry: Moderate

Training Path

Associate's degree minimum + state licensure (2 years)

Environment

Indoor

Outlook

Much Faster Than Avg (+12%)

BLS Code

29-1126

Pros

✓Strong salary for an associate or bachelor's degree — the median is around $79,200, with experienced RTs earning over $100,000 in high-demand markets. Specialty certifications in neonatal or critical care push earnings even higher.
✓Excellent job growth at 13% projected, driven by an aging population and rising rates of COPD, asthma, sleep apnea, and other respiratory conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted how critical respiratory therapists are to healthcare systems.
✓High-acuity, meaningful work — you manage ventilators for critically ill patients, respond to code blues, help premature babies breathe, and treat people in respiratory distress. The work is challenging and genuinely saves lives.
✓Diverse work settings including hospital ICUs, emergency departments, neonatal units, pulmonary rehabilitation clinics, sleep labs, and home care. You can find the environment that fits your personality.
✓Strong professional community — the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) provides continuing education, advocacy, and networking. Respiratory therapy is a well-respected specialty within healthcare.

Cons

✗The educational commitment is significant — you need at least an associate degree (2 years), though the field is increasingly moving toward requiring a bachelor's degree for new graduates. This is a real investment of time and tuition.
✗Hospital RT work involves 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays. Respiratory emergencies do not follow business hours, and critical care RTs are in the thick of life-and-death situations regularly.
✗Exposure to infectious respiratory diseases is a direct occupational hazard. You work closely with patients who are coughing, on ventilators, or producing aerosols. COVID-19 put this risk into sharp focus, and respiratory infections will always be part of the landscape.
✗Emotionally demanding work, especially in ICU and neonatal settings. You will care for patients who do not survive, including babies and children. The psychological toll of critical care work requires active coping strategies and self-care.
✗The scope of practice can feel limiting compared to nursing or physician assistant roles. In some hospitals, RTs feel undervalued or confined to a narrow set of tasks, though this varies significantly by institution.

What the Life Is Like

Respiratory therapists in hospitals typically work 12-hour shifts covering days (7 AM to 7 PM) or nights (7 PM to 7 AM), usually on a rotating schedule of three shifts per week. Your day involves a mix of scheduled and emergency work. Scheduled tasks include ventilator checks and adjustments for ICU patients, administering breathing treatments (nebulizers, inhalers) throughout the hospital, performing pulmonary function tests, managing BiPAP and CPAP for patients with sleep apnea or respiratory failure, and arterial blood gas draws and analysis. Emergency responses include intubations, code blue rapid responses, and managing acute respiratory distress.

The work environment depends on your assignment. ICU respiratory therapists manage the most critically ill patients — those on mechanical ventilators whose lives depend on proper settings and monitoring. NICU RTs specialize in premature infants and newborns with breathing difficulties, which requires both technical skill and emotional resilience. Emergency department RTs handle acute presentations — asthma attacks, COPD exacerbations, pneumonia, and trauma patients with chest injuries.

Physically, the job is moderate — you are on your feet and walking throughout the hospital, but you are not doing heavy lifting. The intensity is more mental and emotional. You need to be able to think clearly under pressure, understand complex physiology, and communicate effectively with physicians and nurses about patient status. The culture among RTs tends to be collegial and supportive — you share the unique experience of working with the sickest patients in the hospital. Many respiratory therapists describe a strong sense of professional identity and pride in their specialized knowledge.

How to Get Started

Complete prerequisite courses

Respiratory therapy programs require prerequisites including anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, college math, and English. You can complete these at a community college, often while working. Strong science grades are important for program admission.

Enroll in a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program

Look for programs accredited by CoARC (Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care). Associate degree programs take about 2 years; bachelor's programs take 4 years. The field is trending toward requiring a bachelor's degree for new graduates, so consider a bachelor's program if possible. Tuition varies but expect $15,000-$40,000 depending on the institution. Programs include extensive clinical rotations in hospitals.

Pass the TMC (Therapist Multiple-Choice) exam to earn your CRT

After graduating, you take the TMC exam administered by the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care). Passing at the low-cut score earns your CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) credential. Passing at the high-cut score earns CRT eligibility and allows you to sit for the Clinical Simulation Exam.

Pass the Clinical Simulation Exam to earn your RRT

The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential requires passing the Clinical Simulation Exam, which presents realistic patient scenarios that test your clinical decision-making. The RRT is increasingly considered the entry-level credential by employers, and RRTs earn approximately $10,000 more per year than CRTs. Pursue this credential as soon as possible.

Get licensed in your state and apply for positions

All states except Alaska require respiratory therapists to be licensed. Apply for your state license with your NBRC credentials. Then apply to hospitals, especially those with large ICUs, NICUs, or pulmonary departments. New graduates often start on night shifts and rotate through different hospital areas before settling into a specialty.

Pursue specialty certifications for advancement

The NBRC offers specialty credentials including NPS (Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist), ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist), and SDS (Sleep Disorders Specialist). These specializations command higher pay and open doors to leadership roles. Some RTs advance into management, education, or pursue graduate degrees in healthcare administration or respiratory care. The AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care) is an excellent resource for continuing education and career development.

Felony Record & Licensing

Often Restricted

State licensure requires background checks. Felony convictions may prevent licensure, though some states have waiver or petition processes.

This trade has significant barriers for people with felony convictions. Consider exploring more accessible alternatives like welding, solar installation, or construction.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026