Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Buffalo, NY: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Buffalo, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $86.7K, 5% over the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $83.9K to $96.5K.

Pay

The median is the middle of respiratory therapists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.

Percentile	Metro	NY	U.S.
25th	$83,880	$95,690	$74,520
Median	$86,720	$107,810	$82,280
75th	$96,480	$126,880	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

6.8

Metro employment

510

National growth, 2025 to 2035

8.5%

National openings a year

8.6 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

Who's hiring

Kaleida Health, 4 campuses
Buffalo Psychiatric Center, 2 campuses
Nys Office of Mental Health, 2 campuses
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, 1 campuses
Brylin Hospitals, 1 campuses
Buffalo General Hospital, 1 campuses

Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.

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

The work

You see your assigned patients, check each ventilator, give treatments, and adjust settings with the physician and the nurse. Codes and rapid responses can interrupt that plan at any hour.

Night shifts are common in hospital work, and weekends rotate. You also teach patients and families how to use oxygen and other equipment at home.

Nearby metros

Rochester, NY · 66 miles
Erie, PA · 82 miles
Syracuse, NY · 138 miles
Williamsport, PA · 148 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Buffalo.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Buffalo?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Buffalo, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Kaleida Health, Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Nys Office of Mental Health.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the New York board before you start in Buffalo.

What should a hospital in Buffalo weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Buffalo has a deeper bench of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 20% under the New York median.