Jobs & Opportunities
Jobs for RTs are abundant and average salaries have increased.
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The projected average salary of RTs working in the U.S. is over $62,000 a year.
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Recent RT graduates have been able to choose from multiple job offers with sign-on bonuses; they have reported an average starting salary of $43,000 - $48,000 and a starting salary as high as $56,160.
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Most of our recent graduates chose jobs at major medical centers and in community hospitals and children's hospitals.
OSU RT Alumni have found success in a variety of settings.
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Some work for home care providers, medical specialists, lung associations, colleges and universities, pharmaceutical companies, respiratory equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
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Alumni in leadership roles have reported salaries as high as $98,000.
RT is a growing field with a bright outlook.
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RT is a growing field, driven by the aging population and a rise in respiratory ailments and cardiopulmonary diseases. There are also increasing opportunities for RTs outside of the hospital.
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According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Respiratory Therapy is expected to add 14,900 new jobs between 2014 and 2024.
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Employment of respiratory therapists is expected to increase faster than average over the next decade, primarily because the aging baby boom generation.
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While U.S. employment in general is forecast to increase by 7 percent, the need for RTs will grow by up to 12 percent.
Careers
Respiratory therapists are licensed health professionals who provide care to patients with cardiopulmonary disorders, who work in a variety of settings including intensive care units, emergency departments, diagnostic laboratories, community hospitals, clinics, and in home care; and they work with infant, pediatric, and adult patients.
The American Association for Respiratory Care has excellent career information and shadowing is also a great way to learn about respiratory therapy.
For more information about Ohio State's program, email: rt@osumc.edu.