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Children's Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Respiratory Therapist - Graduate

Respiratory TherapistFull-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 21m ago · Verified live

Job Description

At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe kids deserve the best.

Children’s Wisconsin is a nationally recognized health system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. We provide primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. Our reputation draws patients and families from around the country.

We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and are seeking individuals dedicated to helping us achieve our vision of the healthiest kids in the country. If you want to work for an organization that makes a difference for children and families, and encourages you to be at your best every day, please apply today.

Please follow this link for a closer look at what it’s like to work at Children’s Wisconsin: instagram.com

Applies scientific knowledge, technical expertise and theory to practical clinical problems and is often required to exercise clinical judgment. Provides therapeutic, diagnostic, consultative and supportive services for neonatal through adult patients and their families. Actively participates in resuscitative and emergent situations. Functions within professional and hospital standards.

  • Understands and satisfies the needs of the neonatal, infant, toddler, pre-school, school age, adolescent and/or adult patient in regards to their growth and development process. Modifies approach and communication to accommodate different developmental levels of children/families with emphasis on allaying fears and explaining procedures and treatments. Demonstrates a commitment to customer service as well as behavior that enhances the image of the department and organization.
  • Initiates, performs and maintains Respiratory Care Competencies in accordance with all quality and safety standards. Understands expected outcomes and with that knowledge, determines techniques for ensuring optimal patient care. Demonstrates prioritization, critical-thinking and decision-making skills. Performs tasks as necessary including, but not limited to, orientation, student and staff precepting, and relief charge. Accurately bills for respiratory care modalities. Identifies and responds to emergent/urgent situations while maintaining competency in BLS, C-spine immobilization, Trauma class, NRP and PALS as applicable.
  • Participates in the discharge process in a collaborative manner with patients, families and the health care team. Provides and documents education to patients/families to promote wellness, and enhance adaptation to illness, injury, health conditions and/or special health care needs. Participates as an active member of the case management process.
  • Acts as a team member and collaborates with the health care team to assure a team approach which provides efficient patient care practices. Communicates and collaborates effectively in a timely manner. Maintains good working relationships with the health care team in solving problems/issues in delivery of services. Provides constructive feedback to peers, resolves conflicts and issues in a timely manner and refers issues to appropriate management as necessary. Keeps supervisor/charge therapist apprised of shift activities and workflow issues. Seeks counsel and or assistance from the RCS Leadership Team and Medical Director when appropriate.
  • Responsible for maintaining departmental responsibilities by attending educational offerings, in-services, and department and hospital meetings. Identifies annual goals for own professional growth and the means by which to achieve them in collaboration with supervisor. Aware of and works toward the accomplishment of department and hospital goals. Represents department on inter-disciplinary committees/work groups as applicable. Keeps current regarding Respiratory Care trends and developments. Membership in professional associations is encouraged.
  • Participates in new product/procedure evaluation and provides timely feedback which contributes to the decision making processParticipates in unit improvement activities including continuing education, research, quality assurance and cost reduction measures.

Education

  • Associate's Degree in Respiratory Therapy required
  • Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • New graduates must obtain either a valid Respiratory Care Practitioner license or a New Graduate Temporary Certificate, according to the conditions set by the State of Wisconsin, prior to start date.
  • Current employees who graduated prior to January 1, 2005 will be grandfathered with current CRT credential.
  • Basic personal computer skills required.
  • Must possess analytical skills necessary to resolve complex clinical problems relating to respiratory care issues and patient safety and welfare.
  • Ability to work independently and utilize time management, prioritization, and multi-tasking skills.
  • Ability to cope with physically and mentally stressful situations.
  • Interpersonal skills which frequently involve collaborating with peers, supervisors and medical staff on issues in order to accomplish objectives for patient care.
  • Ability to stand and walk for up to eighty percent of work time when performing job assignments or responding to emergency calls.
  • Ability to push or pull equipment that may weigh up to 170 lb. Ability to lift equipment/supplies up to 25 lb. Ability to lift or move patients from the neonate to adult. Ability to assemble complex equipment and perform fine motor skills.

Licenses and Certifications

  • License Respiratory Care Practitioner (28) - State of Wisconsin required
  • RRT-Registered Respiratory Therapist - The National Board for Respiratory Care within 180 Days required
  • BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council required
  • PALS-Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council within 180 Days required

Patient Care Responsibility

  • Provides care appropriate to patient population and as described in applicable policies and procedures.

Required for All Jobs

  • This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job.
  • Employment is at-will. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.

Children's Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law.

Certifications/Licenses

BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council, License Respiratory Care Practitioner (28) - State of Wisconsin, PALS-Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council

Key Responsibilities

Provides therapeutic, diagnostic, and supportive respiratory care services for neonatal through adult patients in both routine and emergent situations. Collaborates with the healthcare team to ensure optimal patient outcomes, participates in discharge planning, and maintains departmental quality and safety standards.

Requirements

Requires an Associate's degree in Respiratory Therapy and a valid Wisconsin Respiratory Care Practitioner license or temporary certificate. Must hold or obtain BLS, PALS, and RRT certifications within specified timeframes.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree

Key Skills

Neonatal carePatient assessmentEmergency responsePatient educationInterdisciplinary collaborationEquipment maintenanceDocumentation

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

In Wisconsin, the Respiratory Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$83k (46 salary observations; 292 listings), vs ~$84k nationally (1,726 salary observations; 12,198 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 34% have no call, 56% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedRespiratory Therapy median $86k (middle half $79k–$87k)76 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Wisconsin vs national$83k median in Wisconsin$84k nationally (−2%)46 state / 1,726 national salary observations
Cost of livingWisconsin index 94.1US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in Wisconsin95 active4,020 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 34% no call · 56% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 23% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,343 in the last 30 days753 the 30 days before (+78%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 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 Respiratory Therapist Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

30 jobs · 20 employers
16
<$85k
4
$85k-100k
8
$100k-115k
1
$130k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

19 jobs
401k / retirement match
79%
Sign-on bonus
58%
Loan repayment
26%
Relocation assistance
11%
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

$37.61-$55.27/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist / Respiratory Therapist Resident

$34.43-$51.65/hr
+ 32 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 3,966 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Milwaukee

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$232k
Typical market rent
$1,443/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.9
State income tax
Up to 7.7%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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