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UPMC
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Respiratory Therapist, CRT/RRT

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$24.35-$27.17/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 3mo 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 3,919 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, 68% have no call, 35% require no weekends.

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).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.2 / 10 · top 5% in respiratory therapyranked against 3,919 Respiratory Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$51k–$57kRespiratory Therapy median $72k (middle half $63k–$83k)12 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$55k in purchasing powerPennsylvania index 97.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in Pennsylvania196 active3,917 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 3% remote · 68% no call · 35% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$15k sign-onPennsylvania healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 30% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 2% offer loan repayment203 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,244 in the last 30 days727 the 30 days before (+71%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (3,919 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

19 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

19 jobs · 13 employers
4
<$85k
3
$85k-95k
5
$95k-105k
5
$105k-115k
2
$115k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

15 jobs · 13 employers
401k / retirement match
87%
Sign-on bonus
53% this job
Loan repayment
47%
PSLF eligible
20%
CME allowance
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Senior Respiratory Therapist -Dayshift

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$41.74-$62.48/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist

St Francis Hospital · Colorado Springs, Colorado

$34-$56.1/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$37.61-$55.27/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist (RT) - Adults

$35.5-$53.25/hr
+ 17 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 7.2
Among the best 10% of Respiratory Therapy listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,919 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Pittsburgh

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$229k
Typical market rent
$1,569/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 (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 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.