i need advise from a respiratory therapist

bargainhound, RN · Feb 16, 2006

Check out the pay before you leap.

I worked with RT students in Florida years ago who had not done that

and were very disappointed....don't make that mistake.

JR5858 · Feb 16, 2006

thanks bargainhound. i guess if i wanna make the real bucks it's nursing even if it takes me longer .

bargainhound, RN · Feb 16, 2006

Check out http://www.salary.com.

I just did and here are the numbers for Tulsa, Oklahoma:

25% get 45,076

Median is $47,712

75 % get 50,972

I do know that there are also RT's who contract out and do

agency work....so maybe their numbers are higher.

So, maybe I stand corrected and it is a good option these days.

Just be sure .....I know some cannot handle secretions, etc.

Good luck to you and here's to a decision based on wisdom.

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2006

There is also quite a bit of pay difference depending on the level of education. Around here, CRT's (certified resp. ther.) makes $4 to $5 less an hour than RRT's (registered resp. ther.)

JR5858 · Feb 16, 2006

thanks:rolleyes:

RRTM2 · Feb 16, 2006

]S. Cali...

]Staff: $19 - $23hr to start. ]+ $2-3hr for night shift. ]36hr week.

]Registry: around $30hr.

]$1 per liter of sputum. :)

ECMOismygame · Mar 21, 2006

]S. Cali...
]Staff: $19 - $23hr to start. ]+ $2-3hr for night shift. ]36hr week.
]Registry: around $30hr.
]$1 per liter of sputum. :)

any RT agencies in southern cali? specifically orange county and LA county?

we have a few and they pay $30/hr to CRT's and a i think up to $35/hr for RRTs, but usually its just doing reg floors and no icu/er assignments, (so pretty easy money)

i live in tx, but will sign a 2yr contract with a hospital in newport beach, CA, that will pay 6K of my schooling. ive seen per diem rates at $30/hr at uc-irvine hosp, but are the rates mentioned above pretty close to OC payrates? thanks so much......i wish resp care had a website like this one, so that i wouldnt feel so bad about "hijacking the forum".

thanks

edit: also i will be graduating with a BS in Resp Care, have at least 6 months experience as a CRT when i obtain my registry and have alot of the alphabet soup when i graduate (ACLS, BLS, PALS, NRP, NPS) and hope to specialize in neo/peds, hence the NPS.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 21, 2006

courtesy of us dept of labor: respiratory therapists

ECMOismygame · Mar 22, 2006

courtesy of us dept of labor: respiratory therapists

was that directed at me?????

if so, that sarcasm really doesnt help

i think most ppl with common sense will not go by those figures (nationwide). you can work in rural texas as a newrn for $17hr or live in sanfran and start off at $35hr. so asking on this forum is definitely the smart thing to do.

if not directed at me sorry, i had a long day :lol2:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 22, 2006

Must be your long day...

US Dept of labor has great info regarding all sorts of careers: includes info on what job entails, education/training. salary and job outlook. Link posted as educational info.