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Catawba
Hickory, North Carolina

Respiratory Therapist / Respiratory Care / PRN

Respiratory TherapistPer Diem

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 2h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Evaluates patients in therapy and advises physicians on appropriate therapy modalities. Provides respiratory care to patients through administration of therapeutic gases and drugs, and by setting up and monitoring ventilators and other devices. Patient population includes neo-nates, infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics.

Required Education

  • Graduate of a CoARC approved Respiratory Care Program.
  • Must have a current NC Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license.
  • CRT required.
  • BCLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA).
  • ACLS, PALS, NRP certified within three months of employment. Employees returning from leave must take recertification’s at next available date.
  • Works independently in at least three of the following areas: ED, Floor Therapy, CCU, NICU, Diagnostics Collaborates with students during clinical rotation.

Required Work Experience

No previous experience required. Given training and on-the-job experience, incumbent should be proficient in the basic aspects of the job within three months of employment date.

About Catawba Valley Medical Center

Comprehensive, Accessible Healthcare Services in the Catawba Valley

As the region’s largest not-for-profit community hospital, we exist to heal and comfort patients, to promote and foster a healthier community, and to ensure access to healthcare to all who need it - regardless of ability to pay. With a wide array of medical specialties, our skilled nurses and providers are trained to treat virtually any type of injury or illness, providing high-quality, easily accessible healthcare close to home.

Our mission: Exceptional Healthcare. Every Person. Every Time.

At A Glance

  • Region’s only level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • Women’s Choice Award winner for America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience for six consecutive years
  • American College of Surgeons Accredited Comprehensive Community Cancer Center

High Level of Technical Care from Medical Experts

Catawba Valley Medical Center offers a wide range of services from experienced medical specialists capable of addressing virtually any healthcare concern. Our current hospital holds 258 beds and serves the five-county Hickory area. Through our skilled medical practitioners and our highly trained staff, we strive to provide the highest level of medical expertise using the latest, state-of-the-art technology available.

One of our goals at Catawba Valley Medical Center is to provide seamless care between your primary care provider and our hospital. Being a part of a vast healthcare network allows for easier and more efficient communication between local physicians, medical specialists and our hospital.

No one should have to travel far for the expert level medical treatment they need. We work with a plethora of medical specialists capable of diagnosing, treating and operating on a wide variety of conditions.

Key Responsibilities

The Respiratory Therapist evaluates patients and advises physicians on appropriate therapy modalities. They provide respiratory care by administering therapeutic gases and drugs while monitoring ventilators and other medical devices.

Requirements

Candidates must be graduates of a CoARC approved Respiratory Care Program and hold a current NC Respiratory Care Practitioner license. Required certifications include CRT and BCLS, with ACLS, PALS, and NRP required within three months of employment.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Ventilator managementTherapeutic gas administrationPatient evaluationClinical collaborationDiagnostic testingNeonatal carePediatric careGeriatric careEmergency careCritical care

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 62% have no call, 48% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

29 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution19 jobs

3
<$90k
9
$90k-110k
4
$110k-130k
3
$130k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks18 jobs

401k / retirement match
61%
Sign-on bonus
39%
CME allowance
22%
Relocation assistance
22%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist

Sutter Health · Sacramento, California

$47.68-$66.75/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist

Northwell · Terryville, New York

$80k-$136k
#3

RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist

$58-$63/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist - Providence Kodiak Island

$37.08-$55.62/hr
+ 27 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 3,704 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Hickory

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$292k
Typical market rent
$1,531/mo
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
88.5
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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