Duke Health logo
Duke Health
Durham, North Carolina

Respiratory Therapist - Pediatrics

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

What You Can Expect

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Health hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Incentives and Total Rewards

  • Relocation Assistance: Up to $8,000 for eligible applicants
  • Commitment bonus: Up to $20,000 for eligible applicants

Total Rewards

A comprehensive set of pay and benefits designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance.

How You Will Make an Impact

The Respiratory Therapist will perform diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures as defined in the Respiratory Care Services scope of clinical practice. Work is performed in accordance with physician orders. Defined duties are performed in neonatal, pediatric and adult patient populations.

Administer Oxygen

Administer aerosolized medication via Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing (IPPB), Intermittent Aerosol Therapy (IAT) and Metered Dose Inhaler ( MDI). Administer incentive breathing devices.

  • Perform nasotracheal and artificial airway suctioning.
  • Perform CPR and bag- mask ventilation.
  • Perform pulse oximetry monitoring.
  • Perform arterial blood gas punctures.
  • Perform bedside pulmonary mechanics.
  • Diagnostic cardiopulmonary procedures, pulmonary function studies, EKGs and cardiac monitoring.
  • Transport patients within the hospital.
  • Verify physician orders.
  • Assure correct set-up, safety and function of all equipment/ supplies necessary in the provision of patient care.
  • Assure adherence to all infectious disease standards in the delivery of all patient care procedures.
  • Recognizes life threatening situations and initiates appropriate response.
  • Understands pharmacological indications, dosages and response to adverse drug reactions.
  • Makes patient care assessments according to accepted protocols.
  • Provides education to patients, families, physicians, nursing and other members of the health care team.

Monitors response to all therapy. Documents in the patient medical record.

Communicates all pertinent clinical information Participates in quality improvement activities.

Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of respiratory equipment. (IPPB), Intermittent Aerosol Therapy (IAT) and Metered DoseInhaler (MDI).

Administer incentive breathing devices. Perform nasotracheal and artificial airway suctioning. Perform CPR and bag- mask ventilation. Perform pulse oximetry monitoring. Perform arterial blood gas punctures. Perform bedside pulmonary mechanics.

Diagnostic cardiopulmonary procedures, pulmonary function studies, EKGs and cardiac monitoring. Transport patients within the hospital.

Verify physician orders. Assure correct set-up, safety and function of all equipment/ supplies necessary in the provision of patient care.

  • Assure adherence to all infectious disease standards in the delivery of all patient care procedures.
  • Recognizes life threatening situations and initiates appropriate response.
  • Understands pharmacological indications, dosages and response to adverse drug reactions.
  • Makes patient care assessments according to accepted protocols.
  • Provides education to patients, families, physicians, nursing and other members of the health care team.

Monitors response to all therapy. Documents in the patient medical record.

  • Communicates all pertinent clinical information Participates in quality improvement activities.
  • Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of respiratory equipment.

What You Will Need

Education:

Completion of a 2 year AMA approved respiratory care program (Associates Degree or the equivalent) or currently enrolled in an AMA approved Respiratory Care Program, and registry eligible.

Experience

None required

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

North Carolina State Licensure or North Carolina State Provisional License, Certification by the National Association for Respiratory Care (NBRC) if graduate. Certification in Basic Life Support ( BLS), and any other applicable certifications applicable to the institution.

Skills

Knowledge necessary to make appropriate clinical decisions and interactions relative to the specific age of a patient.

Skills validation/certifications of competencies for the duties and responsibilities of this level. Must maintain annual skill requirements

Must maintain annual safety/compliance requirements Must maintain North Carolina annual license requirements for CEU's Customer service and communication expertise.

Work involves contact with patients of all ages, family members, physicians, nursing, and all other members of the health care team. Work is performed in all areas of Duke Hospital Work may require lifting or pushing in excess of 30 pounds. Work requires walking, climbing and bending.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Key Responsibilities

The Respiratory Therapist performs diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patient populations. Responsibilities include administering respiratory treatments, monitoring patient response, and documenting clinical information in medical records.

Requirements

Candidates must have completed a 2-year AMA-approved respiratory care program and be registry eligible. A North Carolina state license and BLS certification are required for the position.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Respiratory therapyPatient assessmentOxygen administrationEKGPatient transportClinical documentationEquipment maintenance

Pediatrics Career Context

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapist listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 52% have no call, 52% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapist pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution29 jobs · 25 employers

10
<$90k
7
$90k-105k
8
$105k-120k
3
$120k-135k
1
$139k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks26 jobs · 25 employers

401k / retirement match
85%
Sign-on bonus
42% this job
Relocation assistance
12% this job
PSLF eligible
12%
Loan repayment
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist

Sutter Health · Sacramento, California

$47.68-$66.75/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist II

Marian Regional Medical Center · Santa Maria, California

$52.03-$64.05/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist – CRT/RRT

$45.05 - $63.70/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist II

$41.41-$62.92/hr
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 50% of Pediatrics (Respiratory Therapy) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 48 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$363k
Typical market rent
$1,659/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Duke Health logo

About Duke Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Durham, North Carolina
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Relocation Assistance (up to $8,000)
Commitment Bonus (up to $20,000)
Comprehensive benefits package