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UPMC
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Respiratory Therapist, CRT/RRT

Respiratory Therapist Top 5% in Respiratory TherapyFull-Time

Listed compensation

$24.35-$27.17/hr

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

URGENT IN!! UPMC will now PAY costs to complete the RRT exam!

New Graduates, CRT & RRT credentials are eligible to apply! Candidates will be placed into the necessary title/level and compensation rate based on background and experience.

  • FT and Casual statuses available
  • Starting Rates: CRT- $24.35, RRT-$25.21, Sr. RRT-$27.17
  • We’re excited to offer sign-on bonuses for qualified Respiratory Therapists who join our team:

· $15,000 for therapists with 0–1 year of experience with a 2-year full-time commitment

· $20,000 for therapists with 1+ years of experience with a 2-year full-time commitment

Plus, a limited-time incentive to earn an additional $10,000 upon completion of your third year of employment.

Sign-on bonuses are also available for part-time positions and will be prorated based on commitment.

A Respiratory Therapist (RT) is a healthcare professional responsible for assessing patients with respiratory disorders, conducting diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, and administering respiratory therapy. They work under the direction of doctors and treat a range of patients. Here are the key responsibilities and qualifications for this role:

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assessment and Diagnosis:
  • Interview patients to gather relevant medical history and assess respiratory conditions.
  • Conduct diagnostic tests, including measuring lung capacity and blood acidity/alkalinity.
  • Collaborate with physicians and nurses to develop personalized treatment plans.

Treatment Administration

Administer respiratory treatments based on patient conditions, such as oxygen therapy, aerosol medications, and chest physiotherapy.

  • Set up and operate medical devices, including mechanical ventilators.
  • Connect patients who require ventilator support.
  • Educate patients on equipment usage and medication.

Monitoring and Emergency Care

Regularly check on patients and equipment.

Monitor patient responses to therapy, including vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes.

Provide emergency care during code situations.

Documentation and Communication

Maintain accurate patient charts with relevant identification and therapy information.

Collaborate with healthcare team members, including demonstrating respiratory care procedures to trainees and supervising students during training.

Graduate of a Co ARC (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care) approved Respiratory program required OR students who have received a temporary license are permitted to begin employment with approval from the Human Resources department along with their official transcripts.

Basic Life Support or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation required

Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRTT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) required prior to expiration of temporary practice permit. Respiratory therapists who receive their CRT credential from the NBRC after July 1, 2002 are required to maintain certification under the NBRC requirements

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances

CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT)
  • Osteopathic Respiratory Care OR Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP)
  • Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Key Responsibilities

Assess patients with respiratory disorders and develop personalized treatment plans in collaboration with physicians. Administer therapies, operate mechanical ventilators, and provide emergency care during code situations.

Requirements

Must be a graduate of a CoARC approved Respiratory program and hold a CRT credential from the NBRC. BLS or CPR certification based on AHA standards is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient AssessmentDiagnostic TestingMechanical VentilationPatient EducationVital Signs MonitoringArterial Blood Gas AnalysisPatient ChartingClinical Supervision

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Respiratory Therapist, CRT/RRT at UPMC a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 5% in Respiratory Therapy — ranked against 3,479 active Respiratory Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 75% have no call, 65% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Pennsylvania is 97.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $55k in an average-cost state. 61.7% of Pennsylvania clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

5 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution5 jobs

1
$92k
1
$116k
2
$120k-135k
1
$136k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution5 jobs

0
1-2
0
3-4
1
5-6
4
7-8
0
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Respiratory Therapist

Northwell · Terryville, New York

$80k-$136k
#2

RRT - Registered Respiratory TherapistContract

Empro Staffing · New York, New York

$58-$63/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$38-$62/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist 1

$34.2-$55.75/hr
+ 3 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

7.2/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 5% in Respiratory Therapy

Living in Pittsburgh

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$234k
Typical market rent
$1,545/mo
Residents’ average commute
23 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
94.7
State income tax
Up to 3.1%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Pittsburgh, PA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

UPMC logo

About UPMC

Hospitals and Health Care
Pittsburgh, PA
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

RRT Exam Costs Paid
Sign-On Bonus
Third Year Bonus