The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, Economic Research and Analysis Bureau reported that as of June 2014, the respiratory therapy occupation reported a shortage, both statewide and in the Albuquerque area. This has prompted an increase in the hiring of new graduates from the states RT training programs.
The Economic Research and Analysis Bureau also reported that respiratory therapists currently earn a mean, annual salary of $53,360 or $25.65 per hour. Other findings regarding respiratory therapists in New Mexico included:
- The average salary for an entry-level respiratory is $43,950, or $21.13 per hour.
- The average salary for an experienced respiratory therapist is $58,070, or $27.92 per hour.
- Respiratory therapists in the 25th percentile earn an average salary of $47,760, or $22.96 per hour.
- Respiratory therapists in the 50th percentile earn an average salary of $53,860, or $25.90 per hour.
- Respiratory therapists in the 75th percentile earn an average salary of $59,300, or $28.51 per hour.
Respiratory therapists earned an average annual wage of $25.12 in 2011, $25.62 in 2012, and $26.12 in 2013, illustrating a promising trend.
Respiratory therapists are organized under New Mexico’s Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations occupational group. As of June 2014, the New Mexico Workforce Connection reported that healthcare practitioners and technical occupations comprised 20 percent of all job openings in the state. The Workforce Connection also reported that health services increased 2.9 percent between June 2013 and June 2014 and comprised 16 percent of all jobs in the State.
The table below was furnished by the U.S. Department of Labor and shows respiratory therapist salary data in cities across New Mexico as of 2013.