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Erlanger Health System
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Registerered Respiratory Therapist-Full-Time

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 · Verified live

Job Description

$5,000 Sign On Bonus

Job Summary

Reports to the team leader. Chief objective of this position is that the employee must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in the area of Respiratory Care with the emphasis in critical care.

Education

Required: Associate of Science in Respiratory Care, or graduate of an NBRC and AMA approved Respiratory Program meeting requirement for eligibility of the NBRC Exam.

Preferred: Bachelor degree in Respiratory Therapy or related field.

Experience

Required: One (1) year of clinical experience as a respiratory therapist. Clinical training from an accredited Respiratory Care program is acceptable.

Preferred: Two-Three (2-3) years of critical care experience as a registered therapist.

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration

Required

(RRT) Registered Respiratory Therapist by the National Board of Respiratory Care. State approved license to practice respiratory care in the state of Tennessee, ABG endorsed. Current AHA BLS completed prior to going to the unit/ department and maintained going forward

Preferred: Current ACLS/PALS/NRP certification

Department Position Summary

Must have an understanding of the principles and practices of respiratory therapy. Computer, time management, analytical and communication skills are a must. Proficient with all equipment utilized in the respiratory care department. Critical Care and general floor care assessment and functional skills are a must.

Must be advanced in critical care and general floor care for the patient population served: school/age to older adults. Therapists will be a part of the CQI team, in data collection for improvements. Must be capable of making recommendations for the most effective utilization of technology available.

Correct and adjust respiratory care and equipment in a timely manner, when needed. Assume preceptor responsibilities for new employees and those peers in advance training as directed within the area of specialty.

Due to this facilities role as a teaching hospital, therapists must also be willing to provide assistance with the clinical training of students from Respiratory Programs that we support.

Assist with clinical based research projects that are related to defining appropriateness and efficiency of respiratory care delivered. Airway management and CPR are required. Organizational and communicational skills are a must in patient care areas.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist will provide respiratory care with an emphasis on critical care and general floor assessment for patients ranging from school-age to older adults. They are also responsible for participating in quality improvement initiatives, precepting new employees, and assisting with clinical research and student training.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an Associate of Science in Respiratory Care or equivalent and be a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) with a Tennessee state license. At least one year of clinical experience and current AHA BLS certification are required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Certifications

ACLS (preferred)PALS (preferred)NRP (preferred)

Key Skills

Patient AssessmentAnalytical SkillsEquipment Maintenance

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 40% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedRespiratory Therapy median $92k (middle half $68k–$109k)24 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingTennessee index 91.9US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in Tennessee122 active3,925 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 40% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$5k sign-onTennessee healthcare professional listings: 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $8k) · 2% offer loan repayment129 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,298 in the last 30 days715 the 30 days before (+82%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

30 jobs · 18 employers
17
<$85k
4
$85k-100k
7
$100k-115k
1
$130k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

20 jobs · 18 employers
401k / retirement match
75%
Sign-on bonus
50% this job
Loan repayment
25%
CME allowance
5%
Relocation assistance
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist II

Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#2

Senior Respiratory Therapist -Dayshift

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$41.74-$62.48/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$37.61-$55.27/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist RRT - Full Time - Nights

$33.16-$51.4/hr
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,963 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Chattanooga

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$324k
Typical market rent
$1,498/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Chattanooga, TN-GA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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