How much will I start out making as a Respiratory Therapist?

Question

I am in the program for Respiratory Therapy. Not sure if I made the right choice. I don't really know how much they start out at, but if it isn't at least $45,000 then I don't think I really want to do it. I live in Indiana. Does anyone know what they make starting out here in Indiana?

I am not going into it for the money, but I don't won't to work 12 hour shifts and spend $50,000 in student loans to only make $30,000 a year. I can get a much less stressful and meaningless job making that. Thank you for not judging me. My son has asthma and my grandmother is dying of lung cancer so money is not the primary reason I chose Respiratory Therapy!

I am not going into it for the money, but I don't want to work 12 hour shifts and spend $50,000 in student loans to only make $30,000 a year. I can get a much less stressful and meaningless job making that. Thank you for not judging me. My son has asthma and my grandmother is dying of lung cancer so money is not the primary reason I chose Respiratory Therapy!

Answer 1

It all depends on where you live. I work in a Missouri town with a population of around 40 thousand. I am an RRT and I make $18 per hour with full benefits. I have a coworker who makes $24 per hour without benefits. At 18 per hour I make the average income for all professions in this area. Here is income information from the US dept of labor.....

Median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $43,140 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,650 and $50,860. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,580. In general medical and surgical hospitals, median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $43,140 in May 2004.

Median annual earnings of respiratory therapy technicians were $36,740 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $30,490 and $43,830. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,640, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $52,280. Median annual earnings of respiratory therapy technicians employed in general medical and surgical hospitals were $36,990 in May 2004.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos084.htm#earnings

Answer 2

How Much Respiratory Therapist Make

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How much will I start out making as a Respiratory Therapist?
I am in the program for Respiratory Therapy. Not sure if I made the right choice. I don't really know how much they start out at, but if it isn't at least $45,000 then I don't think I really want to do it. I live in Indiana. Does anyone know what they make starting out here in...

Answer 4

In Pennsylvania, RTs make $18-20/hour. In Ontario (Canada), we make $24-35/hour. In Alberta (Canada), we make $28-37/hour. For the Canadian jobs, we are unionized and have universal health care, which gives you job security and affordable health care. I will make $55,000 in my first year, in my first respiratory job. Pretty sweet, eh?

If the pay is a major factor in you deciding to be a Respiratory Therapist, then I think you should choose another profession. The RTs I have known who do their job for the money are professionally disasters. I had a clinical instructor who instructed because the pay was higher than her regular job. She was fired after two horrible semesters. I wouldn't want someone treating or teaching me who was only in it for the money.

I will make a very good living for myself and later for my family. This is good. Most importantly, I like that I can go to work and help people. If I was making less money, it wouldn't matter to me. I will be able to support my self and family on what I make. Being able to help people with my profession and be compensated well enough to live comfortably is what I am happy with.

Going into a health profession because of the pay is entirely the wrong reason. Do your potential patients a favor and become a stock broker or a mutual fund manager. You can do a job specifically to make money then. Health care needs a very important element of caring to make it worth while for you and safe for your patients. I have seen what happens when good people work in health care and when people are only in it for the money. It has been the subject of many conversations in clinical, after the bad clinical instructor we had to put up with for two semesters. The first thing me and my classmates would ask is if they are doing it for the money. Good RTs and clinical instructors are doing it because they like their occupation and actually care about other people. Those who answer that they do it for the money send-up a huge warning sign and lose credibility with me.

Answer 5

Where I work which is next door to Indiana, they make about $22/hr to start.