by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant explores Respiratory Therapy Technician/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Administer General Respiratory Care Procedures Under The Supervision Of Respiratory Therapists In A Variety Of Clinical Settings. Includes Instruction In Patient Data Collection And Monitoring, Airway Management, Installation Of Nebulizers And Other Respiratory Assistance Devices, Application And Monitoring Of Breathing Gases, Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Safety And Sanitation Procedures, And Applicable Regulations. Continue reading for the essential details every respiratory therapy technician/assistant major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering respiratory therapy technician/assistant programs.
Nationwide, respiratory therapy technician/assistant is a popular field of study, with 431 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 22 schools to determine the best overall colleges for respiratory therapy technician/assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of respiratory therapy technician/assistant programs later in this article.
Programs in Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a respiratory therapy technician/assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a respiratory therapy technician/assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several respiratory therapy technician/assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 46 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 333 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 52 |
People currently working in careers related to respiratory therapy technician/assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 22.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 21.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.4% |
| Master’s degree | 9.9% |
| Some college courses | 8.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in respiratory therapy technician/assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in respiratory therapy technician/assistant opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to respiratory therapy technician/assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to respiratory therapy technician/assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for respiratory therapy technician/assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers respiratory therapy technician/assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Patient Representatives | $47,419 |
With 22 different respiratory therapy technician/assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased respiratory therapy technician/assistant school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in respiratory therapy technician/assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 52,819 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,541 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,633 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,178 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 614 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 423 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
