There is a secret to possibly doubling your lifetime Respiratory Therapy Salary income and we will share it with you below. But first we will talk about the overall salary information and some of what you should expect in this profession.
There is no question; the respiratory therapy salary is thoroughly earned. This is not a career for someone who wants to sit back and collect his or her paycheck. However, if one is looking for something more than just a respiratory therapy salary, such as the knowledge that when he or she leaves his or her workplace everyday one has helped others recover, this may be the right career. The other plus to working in respiratory therapy is that this is a very secure career path in today’s very uncertain job market.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics having a position in respiratory therapy assures one of a career in one of the fastest growing professions in the next decade. If one is working in a pediatric or cardiopulmonary ward all the better these skills have never been needed more. Partly because people are having babies more often, and they are surviving at a higher rate even when born prematurely, and we are living much longer. The very young and the elderly are the ones who need respiratory therapy most. The average age of Americans today is about 78 years of age. That is increasing each decade as technology gives the medical field more advances, and people change how they live. The larger the population the more medical needs they will have, and the more likely many of them will have a need of the services of respiratory therapy at some point.
In short, a respiratory therapy salary pays the therapist to assist people with their breathing. We don’t breathe we die. That part is pretty simplistic; unfortunately, that is the only simple part about it. Respiratory therapy can be quite complex as are the duties of the therapist. If one works in a pediatric ward she will need to treat infants whose lungs are not fully developed because of a premature birth, monitor them in their incubators, conduct chest physiotherapy. For elderly patients who may be suffering from any number of upper respiratory ailments such as pneumonia, or bronchitis, one may have to set them up on a respirator until they can successfully breathe on their own again, perform emergency services to get them breathing, diagnostic testing, and many other procedures.
As one can see there are many aspects to respiratory therapy. The respiratory therapy salary can range from $35,000 to around $65,000 a year depending on where you are in the country and what type of employer you are working for. Hospitals generally pay a bit more than clinics and doctors offices. Also, if you are a respiratory therapy technician the salary is a bit lower than a straight therapist. This is because the level of responsibility for a technician is not as high. Both positions and your respiratory therapist salary are safe and secure from downsizing, which is saying a lot in this floundering economy.
Now For The Secret!
Many would believe that it’s dependent upon where you went to school or what your grades were. But no that’s not it. The single biggest factor in your overall earnings as a Respiratory Therapist is actually where you live.
Yes, the state and even the city where you live are the single biggest factor in determining your lifetime income.
Just do a search of Respiratory Therapy Salary by state and you will see what we mean. The high states are more than double the lowest states.
So, just like owning a business it’s all about location and a respiratory therapist salary is dependent upon it as well.