Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City, MO

Travel contracts are bidding for the same therapists you are. An RRT who runs the ICU alone belongs at this metro's upper quarter. The nearest metro with its own page for this role is Saint Joseph, MO.

What to offer

A hospital that copies a national midpoint will lose therapists to travel contracts. Use this metro's median for someone new, and the 75th for someone who runs the ICU alone.

Percentile	Metro	MO	U.S.
25th	$66,090	$64,800	$74,520
Median	$79,140	$78,390	$82,280
75th	$90,100	$83,030	$98,730

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How hard this is to fill

Hiring difficulty

2.8

Metro employment

1,190

National growth, 2025 to 2035

8.5%

National openings a year

8.6 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

For one manager

Say the unit, the shift, and the ventilator mix you need covered. Ask about the RRT credential and how much critical care time the person has.

License and training

Every state except Alaska licenses respiratory therapists. Most employers want the NBRC's CRT or RRT credential. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, respiratory therapists

Nearby metros

St. Joseph, MO · 46 miles
Topeka, KS · 62 miles
Columbia, MO · 120 miles
Jefferson City, MO · 133 miles

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

Get the local report

Questions

What do respiratory therapists earn in Kansas City, MO?

In Kansas City, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $79.1K, 4% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $66.1K to $90.1K.

Who hires respiratory therapists in Kansas City?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Kansas City, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Saint Luke's North Hospital, Select Specialty Hospital - Kansas City.

Do I need a license to work as an RT in Missouri?

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Missouri board before you start in Kansas City.

What should a hospital in Kansas City weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Kansas City has a deeper bench of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Missouri median.