A respiratory therapist is a reputed profession, and people in this field make good money. Their average ranges from around $57,000 to $88,00 per year based on several factors like skills, experience, and location. In this article, you will get more information on the respiratory therapist’s salary.
Who are respiratory therapists?
They are medical professionals that have special training for the treatment of lungs. They use high technology and mechanical ventilators to treat their patients. They provide their assistance to nurses and doctors in the maternity room, emergency rooms, therapy offices, or even at home. They can provide great help to people suffering from asthma, lung trauma, pneumonia, and other medical conditions.
They are necessary for an individual in different circumstances, and your primary doctor or physician will tell you if you need their assistance or not. People over the age of 65 and those who smoke regularly need to see a respiratory therapist more than the others. If your baby is premature, there are chances that they will need this therapist too.
Factors that affect the salary of the respiratory therapist
Many things affect how much you will earn as a therapist, and here are a few important points that list them.
- Work experience- Salary increases with the years of experience in every profession, and respiratory therapists are no exception to that.
- Job Location- The city you work in impacts your salary too, as you get more money in the metro cities compared to the small town because the cost of living is also high there.
- Skills- It is the best way to get ahead of the curve early on, as training and skills matter a lot in the job profession.
How can you increase your overall salary as a respiratory therapist?
While there is no shortcut to earning more, there are some things you can do to earn more in this field.
- You can polish your skills and learn some extra things to get that higher position and promotion early on. You can learn how to operate mechanical ventilators, understand the aerosol medication, should be able to give oxygen therapy to the patient, and know how perform CPR on infants, children, and adults. If you can teach the patients and their families how to administer respiratory conditions, it is also a bonus point.
- The best way to earn more is to earn a higher degree and specialization in the field that helps you stand out. If you have a bachelor’s degree in this field, you will earn 20% more than those with an associate degree.
- Networking is another way to increase your salary as a respiratory therapist. You can build relationships with people and connect with those from other departments because you never know if one of those connections will come in handy during a new job or increment.
While aiming for a higher salary is a good incentive, you should also dedicate yourself to helping others and helping them live a better life.
