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Children's Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Respiratory Therapist - Special Limited Term

Respiratory TherapistContract

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting3-day week · 3×12s

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

Posted 34m 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

This special temporary - limited term employee - role for external candidates will allow an experienced RCP to be oriented via an expedited on-boarding process including Skills Assessment and Competency Checklist and protocol reviews and precepted shifts.

Requires Associate's Degree in Respiratory Therapy.

  • Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Therapy preferred

Requires at least 2 years of RCP experience in a hospital setting providing respiratory care.

  • 2+ years of traveler experience preferred

License Respiratory Care Practitioner (28) - State of Wisconsin required

RRT-Registered Respiratory Therapist - The National Board for Respiratory Care required and CRT 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 required

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. 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.
  • 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.
  • Requires commitment to a 20-week assignment at 36 hours per week (3x12-hour shifts. Potential, if approved, for one additional 20-week extension, not to exceed 40 weeks within a 12-month period.

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, RRT-Registered Respiratory Therapist - The National Board for Respiratory Care

Key Responsibilities

Provides therapeutic, diagnostic, and supportive respiratory care services for patients ranging from neonates to adults. Collaborates with the healthcare team to manage patient care, participate in emergent situations, and document clinical outcomes.

Requirements

Requires an Associate's degree in Respiratory Therapy and at least 2 years of hospital-based respiratory care experience. Must hold active Wisconsin licensure, RRT certification, and current BLS and PALS credentials.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Resuscitative proceduresPatient educationEquipment assembly

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

In Wisconsin, the Respiratory Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$84k (34 salary observations; 290 listings), vs ~$85k nationally (1,351 salary observations; 10,278 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; 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, 66% have no call, 50% require no weekends.

Respiratory Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Respiratory Therapist Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution26 jobs · 24 employers

9
<$100k
11
$100k-115k
3
$115k-130k
3
$130k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks24 jobs

401k / retirement match
88%
Sign-on bonus
33%
Relocation assistance
13%
PSLF eligible
13%
Loan repayment
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist

Sutter Health · Sacramento, California

$47.68-$66.75/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist II

Marian Regional Medical Center · Santa Maria, California

$52.03-$64.05/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist – CRT/RRT

$45.05 - $63.70/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist - Providence Kodiak Island

$37.08-$55.62/hr
+ 34 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 3,787 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Milwaukee

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$236k
Typical market rent
$1,477/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 (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 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.