The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 19 percent growth in respiratory therapist (RT) jobs during the ten-year period between 2012 and 2022.
Most RTs work in hospitals; however, other places with job opportunities include:
- Rehabilitation centers
- Nursing homes
- Outpatient clinics
- Physician offices
The Arkansas Bureau of Labor maintains there are 1,200 RTs currently employed in Arkansas. Statewide salaries are (2013):
- Mean annual salary – $$47,270
- Medium annual salary – $44,725
- Mean hourly wage – $22.73
- Medium hourly wage – $21.95
Salary levels differ between locations as well as by education. Persons with a bachelor’s or master’s degree earn more than those with only an associate’s degree. Another important salary differential is between the National Board of Respiratory Care’s Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) credentials.
Median annual salaries of CRTs and RRTs in various Arkansas cities are:
The table below provides 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) salary information for Respiratory Therapists in Arkansas.