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UChicago Medicine
Chicago, Illinois

Respiratory Therapist, ECMO

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$51.2-$59.71/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 4mo ago

Job Description

Respiratory Therapist, ECMO Full-Time Nights

20,000 Dollar Sign-On Bonus

Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support/ECMO Specialist role, with Respiratory Therapy Experience/Education, the Clinical & Procedural Services department, Full Time Nights, University of Chicago Medicine in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL

We're hiring an Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support/ECMO Specialist (with a background in respiratory therapy) for the Clinical & Procedural department for a Full-Time, Nights shift at the University of Chicago Medicine in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL.

Join one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic medical centers, University of Chicago Medicine, in a patient-centric role as the Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support/ECMO Specialist with our Clinical & Procedural Services division.

Our employees deliver world-class care in an environment where opinions are respected, decision-making is rewarded and teamwork is the order of the day. Our staff are encouraged to achieve their career goals, which in turn benefits all of our patients and the University of Chicago Medicine as a whole.

The primary responsibilities of the Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support (AMCS) /ECMO Specialist include providing direct patient care to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients requiring extracorporeal life support; Preparing life support systems according to case and age appropriateness; Assisting the surgeons with initiation of AMCS/ECMO support in emergent situations; Implementing, operating, managing, troubleshooting the life support system; Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support/ECMO Specialist functions independently following standing AMCS/ECMO orders and parameters under the direction of a surgeon and the supervision of the AMCS/ECMO Manager; Assessing patients and equipment continuously during support; providing patient support by continuous monitoring during surgical procedures; Managing the extracorporeal circuit and diagnosing complications of extracorporeal physiology; Maintaining communication with managing surgeons;

Troubleshooting equipment as necessary; Documenting patient care related activities; Ensuring pump supplies and emergency equipment are readily available at all times; Discontinuing support as directed by surgery team;

Cleaning equipment; Other duties as assigned. The AMCS/ECMO Specialist must be able to work in high stress situations and communicate effectively with a multidisciplinary team. They must be able to work collaboratively with physicians and nurses in determining the best management of AMCS/ECMO equipment usage. They manage and maintain all AMCS/ECMO equipment on flight and ground transports.

Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support/ECMO Specialist Education and Experience

Requirements:

  • Must be a graduate of an approved and accredited Respiratory Care Program by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
  • They must have three or more years of critical care experience working as a Respiratory Therapist.
  • One year or more of ECMO experience is preferred.
  • NPS or ACCS credentials are preferred.
  • Holding your license as a Respiratory Therapist in the state of Illinois is required.
  • Holding your Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by The National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is required.
  • A current NRP, PALS, and ACLS certification are required.

Position Details

  • Job Type/FTE: Full Time (0.9 FTE)
  • Shift: Nights – 6:30pm to 7:00am
  • Unit/Department: Respiratory Care Services
  • CBA Code: Non-Union

We’ve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment… with patients and with each other.

We’re in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you’d like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we’re doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits.

The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.

Key Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care and manage extracorporeal life support systems for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients. Responsibilities include initiating support in emergent situations, monitoring patients during surgical procedures, and troubleshooting equipment.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

ECMO ManagementPatient MonitoringEquipment TroubleshootingNeonatal CarePediatric CareAdult CareEmergency ResponseClinical DocumentationMultidisciplinary Collaboration

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Respiratory Therapist, ECMO at UChicago Medicine 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 3,904 active Respiratory Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% have no call, 55% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$115k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $115k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

22 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution22 jobs · 17 employers

6
<$90k
3
$90k-100k
7
$100k-110k
4
$110k-120k
2
$120k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks17 jobs

401k / retirement match
94%
Sign-on bonus
41% this job
Loan repayment
24%
PSLF eligible
18%
Relocation assistance
12%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist – CRT/RRT

Garnet Health · Middletown, New York

$45.05 - $63.70/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist II

Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist (RT), Cardiopulmonary Rehab - Full Time (36hrs/week), Egg Harbor Township

$36.14-$56.23/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist - Providence Kodiak Island

$37.08-$55.62/hr
+ 20 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 3,904 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

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About UChicago Medicine

Hospitals and Health Care
Harvey, IL
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

$20,000 Sign-On Bonus
Full benefits package