Hackensack Meridian Health logo
Hackensack Meridian Health
North Bergen, New Jersey

Registered Respiratory Therapist (Per Diem)

Respiratory TherapistIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$45.09 Hourly

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 49m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning.

It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Administers diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care modalities in a competent manner. Performs diagnostic respiratory care procedure. Maintains and monitors respiratory related equipment. Assists in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

$10,000 sign-on bonus offered to both full-time new graduate RRTs and full-time RRT's new to Hackensack Meridian Health!

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Registered Respiratory Therapist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

Delivers on a daily basis, therapeutic respiratory care modalities, according to department policies and procedures by processing requests for procedures from patient care units and confirming physicians orders in patient charts and establishing a patient care plan for each patient, regularly updating knowledge of techniques and regulations appropriate to the ages of patients served.

Evaluates the effects of therapies and makes records to the physician. Communicates clearly and tactfully with patients. Exposure to blood borne pathogens that require the use of personal protective equipment.

Performs on a daily basis diagnostic procedures according to department policies and procedures as prescribed by the physician. Regularly updates knowledge of techniques and regulations appropriate to the ages of patient served. Communicates clearly and tactfully with patients. Exposure to blood borne pathogens that require the use of personal protective equipment.

Performs on a daily basis check of resuscitation equipment and emergency oxygen supply. Delivers and maintains on a daily basis oxygen equipment as ordered by physician. Stocks on a daily basisrespiratory therapy supplies throughout the hospital. Maintains, cleans and performs, as needed, functional checks of department equipment.

Completes on a daily basis documentation in the patients medical record and department kardex, if all services rendered with a 99% accuracy as per department policies and procedures.

Monitors as required by department policies and procedures the operation of mechanical ventilators including replacement of ventilator circuit change and airway maintenance. Maybe exposed blood borne pathogens that require the use of personal protective equipment.

Responds as needed to all cardio-pulmonary emergency and performs cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as per hospital policies and procedures. Regularly updates knowledge of techniques andregulations appropriate to the ages of patient served. Exposure to blood borne pathogens that require the use of personal protective equipment.

Assists in transport as needed of respiratory care patients within and outside the hospital as per department policies and procedures. Exposure to blood borne pathogens that require the use of personal protective equipment.

Ensures delivery of excellent customer service resulting in positive and improving patient satisfaction scores for department and Medical Center.

Transport as required equipment used in diagnosis and therapeutic services to and from patients rooms and treatment areas.

Provides as requested instruction and guidance to patients and their families to the safe and effectiveuse of respiratory care equipment, supplies and medication delivery devices.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

  • High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
  • Graduate of AMA approved respiratory therapist program required.
  • Previous experience required

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred

At least two (2) years clinical experience preferred

Licenses and Certifications Required

  • Registered Respiratory Therapist required.
  • NJ Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner required.

CPR certified required. NRP required.

Working Conditions

Works indoors in well lighted and ventilated room. Exposure to fumes from chemicals, but risk is minimal when proper safety precautions are observed possibility of strains due to moving patients, equipment and instrumentation. Exposure to contagious disease and blood borne pathogens that require the use of personal protective equipment.

Physical Demands

Standing, walking, pushing, lifting, turning. Lifts objects up to forty (40) lbs. Carries objects weighing up to thirty (30) lbs. Lifts with assistance, on occasion, objects greater than 150 lbs. Frequently pushes objects up to 200 lbs.

Equipment Operated

Knowledge of function and ability to operate ventilator, respirators, blood gas machines, pulse oximeter, pulmonary function unit, suction machine.

  • If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!
  • Starting Minimum Rate
  • Minimum rate of $45.09 Hourly

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members.

The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package.

The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer.

Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate.

The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.

Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training. Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.

Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization.

Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate.

Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.

In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Respiratory therapyTherapeutic careVentilator managementPatient care planningEquipment maintenanceOxygen therapyBlood gas analysisPulse oximetrySuctioningPatient educationEmergency response

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 60% have no call, 50% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost of livingNew Jersey index 108.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in New Jersey93 active4,024 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 5% remote · 60% no call · 50% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 21% state a sign-on bonus (median $11k) · 7% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,278 in the last 30 days802 the 30 days before (+59%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Respiratory Therapy pay trend+2.1% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Respiratory Therapist Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

30 jobs · 18 employers
13
<$85k
2
$85k-100k
12
$100k-115k
2
$115k-130k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

20 jobs · 18 employers
401k / retirement match
75% this job
Sign-on bonus
65% this job
Loan repayment
40%
PSLF eligible
20%
CME allowance
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist II

Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington

$41.41-$62.92/hr
#2

Senior Respiratory Therapist -Dayshift

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$41.74-$62.48/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$34-$56.1/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist

$37.61-$55.27/hr
+ 33 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 3,953 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
Hackensack Meridian Health logo

About Hackensack Meridian Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Edison, New Jersey
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

$10,000 sign-on bonus for full-time new graduate RRTs and full-time RRTs new to HMH
Competitive benefits package (for full-time/part-time 20+ hrs/week)

Living in North Bergen Township

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$650k
Typical market rent
$2,869/mo
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026).

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