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Links Healthcare
San Diego, California

Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Respiratory TherapistNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$46/hour

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, benefits and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Join our team as a Respiratory Therapist and help make a difference in the lives of our residents!

Why Choose Jacob Healthcare Center?

Jacob Healthcare Center, located at 4075 54th Street, San Diego, CA, is a leading provider of patient-centered medical services with 156 beds. We focus on compassionate care, empowering patients to achieve their health goals in a supportive environment.

Our dedicated team offers a wide range of services, including primary care, specialty services, preventive care, and mental health support. We are proud to have a 5-star Customer Satisfaction Management (CSM) rating, reflecting our commitment to excellence.

At Jacob, we offer a supportive and rewarding work environment. Our five-star rating reflects our commitment to excellence, and we provide a dynamic setting where you can thrive. We prioritize training, especially for new graduates, with our hands-on staff personally guiding you. Here, you'll have the opportunity to care for high-acuity patients and receive regular updates and support from your supervisors.

Overview of the Position

The Respiratory Therapist role evaluates, treats, and cares for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Practicing under the direction of the Respiratory Department Head. Respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures, including the supervision of respiratory therapy Technicians.

In this capacity, the Respiratory Therapist is expected to practice safe and ethical care within their designated scope of practice, as defined by the State Regulatory Agency, and under the direction of the Respiratory Department Head. It is essential for the Respiratory Therapist to be aware of their own limitations and to proactively seek advice and assistance when necessary.

Specific duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Assesses patients and recommends respiratory therapy treatments.
  • The doctor recommends respiratory therapy treatments.
  • Plans, prepares and administers respiratory therapy treatments including IPPB, aerosol, chest physical therapy, incentive spirometry, and sputum inductions, in accordance with established policies and procedures.
  • Performs diagnostic pulmonary and cardiac tests.
  • Inspects, tests, maintains and operates respiratory therapy equipment.
  • Responds to “code blue” calls and assists by maintaining the patient’s airway and performs CPR.
  • Instructs respiratory technicians.
  • Patient care documentation is timely, legible, and efficient.
  • Notes are concise, pertinent and meet departmental documentation standards.
  • Oral reporting is clear, concise, relevant, and timely.
  • Utilize resources and materials in an efficient and safe manner.
  • Performs all duties promptly in a competent and caring manner.
  • Present a neat appearance and dress in compliance with the client facilities’ policies.
  • While on assignment, the Respiratory Therapist is responsible and accountable to their assigned patients and to the client institution. The Respiratory Therapist is under the direct supervision of the Department Head or other assigned personnel and must have the ability to follow directions/instruction from his/her supervisor.

Essential Functions

  • Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  • Participates in continuing education and learning experiences to enhance and maintain current knowledge and skills for continued competence.
  • Perform all duties using proper body mechanics.
  • Frequently move/lift between 50-100 pounds, depending on assignment requirements.
  • Stand for long periods with frequent squatting, twisting, bending, kneeling and reaching to prepare equipment, materials or objects in order to provide patient care or maintain the patient environment.
  • Sensory requirements include speech for communication and vision, smell, touch and hearing to assess patient status.
  • Problem solving skills.
  • Manual dexterity and fine motor coordination.
  • Ability to work in a stressful environment.
  • Consistent attendance is required to assure that the client facilities’ needs and patient needs are met.
  • To comply with all client facilities’ policies, procedures and practices.
  • To comply with all client policies and to uphold our standards of excellence while on assignment at our client facilities..

Qualifications

  • Associate degree from an accredited respiratory therapy program.
  • Current license as a Respiratory Therapist as required by the state of California.
  • One-year full time experience as a Respiratory Therapist.
  • Current CPR/BLS Certification.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition), age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), genetic predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status protected by law.

NOC (11:00PM - 7:00Am)

Key Responsibilities

The Respiratory Therapist evaluates and treats patients with cardiopulmonary disorders while maintaining respiratory equipment and performing diagnostic tests. They also respond to emergency code blue calls and provide supervision to respiratory therapy technicians.

Key Skills

Patient assessmentDiagnostic testingCardiopulmonary careAirway managementEquipment maintenanceClinical documentationAerosol therapySputum induction

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Respiratory Therapist (RT) at Links Healthcare a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Respiratory Therapy — ranked against 4,013 active Respiratory Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 43% have no call, 48% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · top 25% in respiratory therapyranked against 4,013 Respiratory Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedRespiratory Therapy median $97k (middle half $79k–$114k)69 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingCalifornia index 110.7US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in California197 active4,020 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 43% no call · 48% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia healthcare professional listings: 6% state a sign-on bonus (median $1k) · 6% offer loan repayment206 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,265 in the last 30 days790 the 30 days before (+60%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (4,013 Respiratory Therapy listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

20 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

20 jobs · 12 employers
6
<$85k
3
$85k-95k
5
$95k-105k
5
$105k-115k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

14 jobs · 12 employers
401k / retirement match
86%
Sign-on bonus
57%
Loan repayment
29%
PSLF eligible
21%
Relocation assistance
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist II

Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$37.61-$55.27/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist RRT - Full Time - Nights

$33.16-$51.4/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist CRTT/RRT - Full Time - Nights

$33.16-$51.4/hr
+ 18 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 90% of Respiratory Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,013 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • On-site

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.00M
Typical market rent
$3,004/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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