Respiratory Therapist I
Listed compensation
$137K–$171K
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
The Respiratory Therapist I (RT I) provides a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care services to patients of all age groups. Responds to cardiopulmonary emergencies providing airway maintenance and manual and mechanical ventilatory support using a variety of devices and techniques.
Administers therapeutic gases, inhaled aerosol medications and humidity therapy. Obtains, reviews, and interprets data and assesses the need for and response to respiratory care interventions and consults with medical and nursing personnel to optimize patient care planning.
Performs arterial blood gas analysis and a variety of cardiopulmonary diagnostic procedures. Provides patient and family instruction in respiratory therapy self-administration and proper use of equipment and supplies.
About UCSF
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.
It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.
Pride Values
UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.
In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here.
Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
Salary Information
The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.
Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.
To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total
Compensation, Please Visit
ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu
Key Responsibilities
The Respiratory Therapist provides diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care services, including airway maintenance and mechanical ventilatory support for patients. They also perform cardiopulmonary diagnostic procedures and educate patients and families on respiratory therapy self-administration.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a valid California Respiratory Care Practitioner license and a current Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) certificate. Additionally, current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certifications are required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Respiratory Therapist I at UCSF 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, 63% have no call, 40% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$154k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $139k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 5% in respiratory therapy | ranked against 3,919 Respiratory Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $137k–$171k | Respiratory Therapy median $95k (middle half $79k–$109k)69 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$139k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Respiratory Therapy listings in California | 163 active | 3,919 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 3% remote · 63% no call · 40% no weekends40 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 8% state a sign-on bonus (median $1k) · 2% offer loan repayment171 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Respiratory Therapy listings | 1,263 in the last 30 days | 749 the 30 days before (+69%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
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