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Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Respiratory Therapist - Pulmonary Function

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 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States.

The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more. Incentives and Total Rewards:

Relocation Assistance: Up to $8,000 for eligible applicants

Commitment bonus: Up to $20,000 for eligible applicants

Total Rewards

A comprehensive set of pay and benefits designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance.

Job Description

Perform diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures as defined in the Respiratory Care Services scope of clinical practice. Work performed in accordance with physician orders. Defined duties are performed in neonatal and pediatric patient populations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administer oxygen, aerosolized medication via Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing ( IPPB), Intermittent Aerosol Therapy (IAT) and Metered Dose Inhaler ( MDI) and incentive breathing devices.

Perform nasotracheal and artificial airway suctioning, CPR and bag- mask ventilation, pulse oximetry monitoring, arterial blood gas punctures and bedside pulmonary mechanics.

  • Diagnostic cardiopulmonary procedures, pulmonary function studies, EKGs and cardiac monitoring.
  • Assure correct set-up, safety and function of all equipment/ supplies necessary in the provision of patient care.
  • Assure adherence to all infectious disease standards in the delivery of all patient care procedures.
  • Understands pharmacological indications, dosages and response to adverse drug reactions.
  • Provides education to patients, families, physicians, nursing and other members of the health care team.
  • Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

RCP

Completion of AMA 2 approved year Associates Degree, or the equivalent program.

Experience

RCP

None required

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

RCP

North Carolina State Licensure or North Carolina State Provisional License, Certification by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

If CRT, must obtain RRT within 6 months of employment

Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS), and any other applicable certifications applicable to the institution.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge necessary to make appropriate clinical decisions and interactions relative to the specific age of a patient.

  • Skills validation/certifications of competencies for the duties and responsibilities of this level.
  • Must maintain annual skill and safety/compliance requirements
  • Must maintain North Carolina annual license requirements for CEU's
  • Customer service and communication expertise.
  • Work involves contact with patients of all ages, family members, physicians, nursing, and all other members of the health care team.
  • Work is performed in all areas of the hospital.
  • Required to carry emergency airway bag weighing approximately 20 pounds.
  • Work requires walking, running, climbing and bending

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.

To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Key Responsibilities

Perform diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care procedures for neonatal and pediatric patients in accordance with physician orders, including oxygen and medication administration, airway management, and pulmonary and cardiac testing. Maintain safe equipment and infection-control practices, monitor patient responses, and educate patients, families, and healthcare team members.

Requirements

Requires completion of an approved two-year associate degree program or equivalent, North Carolina respiratory care licensure or provisional licensure, NBRC certification, and Basic Life Support certification. No prior experience is required; CRT holders must obtain RRT within six months, and the role requires ongoing competency, safety, and continuing-education compliance.

Key Skills

Oxygen AdministrationAerosolized Medication AdministrationCardiopulmonary ResuscitationArterial Blood Gas PuncturePulmonary Function TestingElectrocardiographyEquipment SafetyPharmacologyPatient and Family Education

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 50 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 34% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Respiratory Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedRespiratory Therapy median $77k (middle half $68k–$80k)31 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingNorth Carolina index 94.3US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Respiratory Therapy listings in North Carolina101 active3,964 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 34% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$20k sign-onNorth Carolina healthcare professional listings: 31% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 7% offer loan repayment109 active listings, Nov 2026
New Respiratory Therapy listings1,298 in the last 30 days715 the 30 days before (+82%)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

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

28 jobs · 19 employers
13
<$85k
4
$85k-100k
9
$100k-115k
1
$130k
1
$131k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

18 jobs
401k / retirement match
83%
Sign-on bonus
50% this job
Loan repayment
33%
PSLF eligible
11%
CME allowance
6%

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 RRT - Full Time - Nights

$33.16-$51.4/hr
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 1.5
Below most Respiratory Therapy listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,963 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Duke University logo

About Duke University

Benefits & Perks

Relocation Assistance up to $8,000
Commitment Bonus up to $20,000
Total Rewards benefits package

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$358k
Typical market rent
$1,626/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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