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MUSC
Columbia, South Carolina

Respiratory Therapist-Nonregistered- Downtown

Respiratory TherapistIncludes weekendsFull-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 57m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Description Summary

The Respiratory Therapist at MUSC Midlands provides advanced respiratory care to patients with a variety of respiratory conditions. This role involves performing diagnostic tests, administering treatments, and working closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement patient care plans. The Respiratory Therapist ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care to patients of all ages.

  • Entity
  • Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)
  • Worker Type
  • Employee
  • Worker Sub-Type
  • Regular
  • Cost Center
  • CC003723 COL - Respiratory Therapy (DMC)
  • Pay Rate Type
  • Hourly
  • Pay Grade
  • Health-28
  • Scheduled Weekly Hours
  • 36

Work Shift

  • Job Description
  • Entity/Organization: MUHA (Medical University Hospital Authority/Medical Center)
  • FLSA Status: Hourly

Job Description/Summary: The Respiratory Therapist at MUSC Midlands provides advanced respiratory care to patients with a variety of respiratory conditions. This role involves performing diagnostic tests, administering treatments, and working closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement patient care plans. The Respiratory Therapist ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care to patients of all ages.

Key Responsibilities

  • Patient Assessment and Care
  • Conduct thorough assessments of patients' respiratory conditions through physical examinations and diagnostic tests.
  • Develop and implement individualized treatment plans based on patient assessments and physician directives.
  • Administer respiratory therapies, including oxygen therapy, nebulizer treatments, chest physiotherapy, and mechanical ventilation.
  • Monitor and adjust ventilator settings and other respiratory support devices as needed.
  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Perform pulmonary function tests to assess lung capacity and efficiency.
  • Conduct arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis to evaluate oxygenation and acid-base balance.
  • Utilize advanced diagnostic equipment to identify and monitor respiratory disorders.
  • Emergency and Critical Care
  • Provide respiratory support in emergency situations, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced airway management.
  • Participate in the care of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), ensuring optimal respiratory function and support.
  • Assist in the transport of critically ill patients, maintaining stability during transfers.
  • Education and Training
  • Educate patients and their families on respiratory care techniques, equipment usage, and disease management.
  • Provide training and support to nursing staff and other healthcare professionals on respiratory care practices and procedures.
  • Stay current with the latest advancements in respiratory care through continuing education and professional development.
  • Compliance and Safety
  • Adhere to all MUSC Midlands policies and procedures, as well as state and federal regulations related to respiratory care.
  • Follow infection control protocols to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for patients and staff.
  • Ensure proper maintenance and calibration of respiratory equipment.

Qualifications

Education

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy from an accredited program.

Experience

  • 0-1 year as a Respiratory Therapist in a clinical setting.
  • Experience in critical care or emergency care settings is preferred.

Licensure/Certification

  • Certified as a Respiratory Therapist.
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
  • ACLS Required, PALS- will be obtained during the Respiratory Therapy department orientation, NRP has 90 days to obtain.

Skills

  • Strong clinical skills and knowledge of respiratory care procedures and equipment.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.
  • Strong organizational and time-management abilities.

Working Conditions

Work Environment

  • Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials with proper safety protocols in place.
  • Rotating shifts, including possible evenings, weekends, and holidays, may be required.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform job functions while standing. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (Continuous) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work from elevated areas. (Frequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Continuous) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Frequent) Ability to perform "pinching" operations. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor activities with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform firm grasping with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform fine manipulation with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to reach overhead. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to use lower extremities for balance and coordination. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (Infrequent) Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force. (Frequent) Examples include: To transfer a 100 lb. patient that can not assist in the transfer requires 50 lbs. of force. For every 100 additional pounds, assistance will be required from another healthcare worker. 20 lbs. of force is needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet. 25 lbs. of force is required to push a stretcher with a patient with one hand. Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. (Continuous) Ability to work rotating shifts. (Frequent) Ability to work overtime as required. (Frequent) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) (Selected Positions) *Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) *(Selected Positions) *Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required. (Continuous) (Selected Positions)

Additional Job Description

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: uscis.gov

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Pulmonary function testingArterial blood gas analysisPatient educationEquipment calibration

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 48% have no call, 50% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedRespiratory Therapy median $92k (middle half $68k–$109k)24 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingSouth Carolina index 93.7US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in South Carolina85 active3,996 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 48% no call · 50% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 24% state a sign-on bonus (median $14k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Oct 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,292 in the last 30 days794 the 30 days before (+63%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Respiratory Therapy pay trend+1.2% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

27 jobs · 16 employers
15
<$85k
4
$85k-100k
7
$100k-115k
0
$115k-130k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

21 jobs · 16 employers
401k / retirement match
67%
Sign-on bonus
62%
Loan repayment
19%
PSLF eligible
10%
CME allowance
5% this job

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 · South Boston, Virginia

$37.61-$55.27/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist, 36hr Nights

$30.53-$54.96/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 4,003 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends

Living in Columbia

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$218k
Typical market rent
$1,500/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
93.7
State income tax
Up to 6.5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Columbia, SC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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