Wisconsin’s Worknet designated the field of respiratory therapy as number 22 on its list of high-growth occupations for the period between 2010 and 2020. They consider it to be one of the fastest growing fields in the state.
The demand for respiratory therapists is projected to be more than 50% higher in Wisconsin than the national average. Worknet projects an employment increase of 29.4% between 2010 and 2020.
The average 2012 respiratory therapist salary in Wisconsin for its 1,870 licensed RT professionals was $56,270. Entry-level respiratory therapists earned a salary of $45,930 a year while those with experience earned $61,440 on average.
An analysis of respiratory therapist salaries by county indicated that the average and experienced salaries were highest in Waukesha County. Salary data is shown below for some of Wisconsin’s most populated counties:
Wisconsin’s seven accredited respiratory therapy training programs thoroughly prepare their students for employment. According to the Commission on the Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 96.1% of their 2013 graduates passed the National Board for Respiratory Care entry-level exam to get their Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. In addition, 90.2% of these graduates obtained jobs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a detailed breakdown of 2013 Wisconsin respiratory therapist salaries in various metropolitan areas throughout the state. This salary data is presented in the following table: