Breathing is probably the most basic need for life. Respiratory therapists help people who have trouble breathing, from premature infants to 90-year-olds dying of lung cancer. There are many reasons for breathing complications but, in all cases, RTs are there to help solve the problem.
Respiratory Therapists in Delaware are required to hold a license issued by the state Division of Professional Regulation’s Board of Licensure and Discipline.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that respiratory therapy jobs in Delaware will increase by 29 percent during the current decade ending 2018. According to the BLS, 430 RTs are currently employed in Delaware earning an average salary of $65,530. This compares very favorably with the national annual mean salary of $57,880.
RT salaries differ by both geographic location and educational level. The annual median salary for CRTs and RRTs in various Delaware cities are as follows:
The majority of RTs work in hospital or clinical settings; however, there are also job opportunities at the following places:
- Diagnostic labs
- Sleep disorder clinics
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- In-home care providers
- Physician offices
- Critical care transport providers
- Respiratory equipment manufacturers
The table below provides 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) salary information for Respiratory Therapists in Delaware’s largest cities: