St. Joseph Medical Center logo
St. Joseph Medical Center
Tacoma, Washington

Adult Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$37.24-$62.56/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 42m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Where You’ll Work

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891.

Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area.

Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.

Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education.

Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.

We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence.

When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well-equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As a Respiratory Therapist, you will join an established team of RTs who share your passion for delivering highly specialized cardiopulmonary care to patients experiencing breathing issues.

You'll be instrumental in providing a range of treatments from breathing techniques and nebulizer treatments to ventilator management, oxygen therapies, and external ventilation support.

Every day you will apply your keen assessment skills and critical thinking to manage diverse patient needs, develop and execute effective care plans, and ensure calm, focused intervention in both routine and emergent situations.

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate a strong sense of urgency, unwavering calm under pressure, and the ability to anticipate outcomes. Your dedication to patient well-being and exceptional problem-solving abilities will drive success in this vital role.

Performs respiratory patient care to include Aerosol Therapy, ABGs, ETTs, Bronchus, ECGs, CPT, Vent Care, CPAP/BIPAP therapy and other Respiratory Care Procedures in accordance with all department safety, risk management and procedural standards.

Monitors patients for adverse reaction, and takes corrective action.

May performs EEG studies.

Continually evaluates and assesses the cardiopulmonary condition of patients using data acquired from physical examination, respiratory monitoring, and diagnostic equipment.

Determine the effectiveness and/or need for change in the therapy being administered and make recommendations to the physicians and/or Manager regarding treatment.

Communicates patient assessment to nursing and other staff, as appropriate.

Job Requirements

Required

  • Graduation from an approved school of Respiratory Therapy and One (1) year recent clinical experience in Respiratory Care that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge skills/abilities, upon hire and
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner: WA, upon hire and
  • Registered Respiratory Therapist, upon hire and
  • Basic Life Support - CPR, upon hire and
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support, within 6 - months and
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support, within 6 - months
  • Preferred
  • Work experience in the specialty area

Key Responsibilities

The Respiratory Therapist provides specialized cardiopulmonary care, including ventilator management, oxygen therapy, and various respiratory procedures. They are responsible for assessing patient conditions, executing care plans, and intervening effectively in both routine and emergent clinical situations.

Requirements

Candidates must have graduated from an approved school of Respiratory Therapy and possess at least one year of recent clinical experience. Required certifications include WA Respiratory Care Practitioner license, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, and BLS-CPR.

Certifications

ACLSPALS

Key Skills

ABG analysisECGEmergency interventionClinical documentationPatient monitoring

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 43% have no call, 53% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$104k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $97k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$77k–$130kRespiratory Therapy median $95k (middle half $82k–$115k)18 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$97k in purchasing powerWashington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in Washington45 active3,982 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 43% no call · 53% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 24% state a sign-on bonus (median $12k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$104k midpoint, that is roughly $4k–$7k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

23 jobs · 14 employers
7
<$85k
4
$85k-100k
7
$100k-115k
3
$115k-130k
2
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

18 jobs · 14 employers
401k / retirement match
89%
Sign-on bonus
56%
Loan repayment
22%
Relocation assistance
17%
PSLF eligible
17% this job

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
+ 21 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 3,994 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

St. Joseph Medical Center logo

About St. Joseph Medical Center

Hospitals and Health Care
Kansas City, MO
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

PSLF eligible employer

Living in Tacoma

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$483k
Typical market rent
$1,773/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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