Lead Respiratory Therapist
Listed compensation
$30.75-$46.25/hr
The week · per this posting3-day week · 3×8s
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
- Location: Avera St Mary's Hospital Worker Type: Regular
- Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America)
- Pay Range: The pay range for this position is listed below
Actual pay rate dependent upon experience. $30.75 - $46.25 Position Highlights Day shift; three 8 hour days and one 12 hour day M-Th You Belong at Avera Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.
A Brief Overview Responsible for performing, evaluating and coordinating diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures as defined in the Respiratory Care Services scope of clinical practice, performing work in accordance with physician orders in the neonatal, pediatric and adult patient populations in intermediate, intensive and emergency care areas.
Serves as a resource to the employees in the Respiratory department and assists with orientation of new employees to the department. What you will do Assists with the development of immediate and future goals and objectives for the unit. Assists with the review and revision of operating policies and procedures.
Reviews the patient plan of care with the direct caregivers to offer suggestions/interventions to enhance efficiency and quality of care. Communicates frequently with the staff and reports feedback in a timely fashion to the Leader.
Acts as a resource to the employees in the Respiratory Department to answer questions and concerns. Assists the Leader in developing and orientating staff.
Administers respiratory therapeutics according to Avera's Respiratory Care’s Scope of Practice including, but not limited to: CPT and PD aerosol therapy, MDI, IPPB, Incentive Spirometry, O2 management, bronchoscopies, pneumongram, and ECG/holter monitoring set-up.
Demonstrates ability to provide respiratory therapy in accordance with hospital policies and procedures and with respect to the patient’s rights to dignity and privacy. May be required to assist with out of house transports. Essential
Qualifications
The individual must be able to work the hours specified.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds.
These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.
Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience: Associate's Respiratory Therapist - Licensing Board Active license in the state of practice Upon Hire and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Upon Hire or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Upon Hire Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience: Bachelor's 1-3 years general respiratory therapist experience and critical care experience Expectations and Standards Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship. Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity. Maintain confidentiality.
Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment. Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.
Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future. PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.
Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org. At Avera, the way you are treated as an employee translates into the compassionate care you deliver to patients and team members.
Because we consider health care a ministry, you can live out your faith, uphold the dignity and respect of all persons while not compromising high-quality services. Join us in making a positive impact on moving health forward.
Key Responsibilities
The Lead Respiratory Therapist performs, evaluates, and coordinates diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients. They also serve as a resource for department staff, assisting with orientation and the development of unit goals.
Requirements
Candidates must hold an Associate's degree in Respiratory Therapy and possess an active state license along with RRT or CRT certification. Preferred qualifications include a Bachelor's degree and 1-3 years of general and critical care respiratory experience.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Lead Respiratory Therapist at Avera Health a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Respiratory Therapy — ranked against 3,913 active Respiratory Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.
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 South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.2% of South Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.4 / 10 · top 25% in respiratory therapy | ranked against 3,913 Respiratory Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | not listed | Respiratory Therapy median $86k (middle half $79k–$96k)575 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost of living | South Dakota index 88.6 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Respiratory Therapy listings in South Dakota | 15 active | 3,924 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 48% no call · 55% no weekends40 benchmarked listings |
Location & Logistics
South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.
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