Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Cedar Rapids, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $66.8K, 19% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $65.4K to $80.7K.

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	IA	U.S.
25th	$65,420	$64,670	$74,520
Median	$66,830	$74,760	$82,280
75th	$80,650	$80,730	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

7.1

Metro employment

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

Better Home Health and Caring Non Medical Drivers, 1 campuses
Mentor Abi, 1 campuses
Mercy Medical Center, 1 campuses
St Luke's Methodist Hospital, 1 campuses
St. Luke's Methodist Hospital, 1 campuses
Virginia Gay 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

Iowa City, IA · 23 miles
Waterloo, IA · 50 miles
Davenport, IA · 62 miles
Dubuque, IA · 62 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Cedar Rapids.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Cedar Rapids?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Cedar Rapids, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Better Home Health and Caring Non Medical Drivers, Mentor Abi, Mercy Medical Center.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Iowa board before you start in Cedar Rapids.

What should a hospital in Cedar Rapids weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Cedar Rapids has about a third fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 11% under the Iowa median.