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Respiratory Therapists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1126
0.0% AI Exposure — Low
$82,280
Median Annual Salary
Bright ↗
O*NET Outlook
10,600
Proj. Annual Openings
139,790
Employment (OEWS 2025)
100/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure0.0%
AI Resiliency100/100
Exposure BandLow
Sector Avg. Exposure2.6%
Top Skills
1.Active Listening
2.Critical Thinking
3.Monitoring
4.Speaking
5.Reading Comprehension
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
Common titles: Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist, Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Respiratory Therapist (RT), Staff Respiratory Therapist
Representative Tasks
- •Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- •Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
- •Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- •Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- •Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Implement advanced life support techniques.
- •Treat medical emergencies.
- •Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- •Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
- •Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
Tools & Technologies
eClinicalWorks EHR software · hotMEDITECH software · hotMicrosoft Excel · hotMicrosoft Office software · hotMicrosoft Outlook · hotMicrosoft PowerPoint · hotElectronic medical record EMR softwareHMS
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
2.6%
Avg AI Exposure
14
Bright Outlook
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| Outlook | Bright ↗ | 93% Bright |
| Median Salary | $82,280 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |