Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Columbia, MO: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Columbia, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $69.4K, 16% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $69.4K to $83.8K.

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	MO	U.S.
25th	$69,400	$64,800	$74,520
Median	$69,400	$78,390	$82,280
75th	$83,780	$83,030	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

2.5

Metro employment

150

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

Centerpointe Hospital of Columbia, 1 campuses
Ch Allied Services, 1 campuses
Curators of the University of Missouri, 1 campuses
Landmark Hospital of Columbia, 1 campuses
Pinnacle Regional Hospital, 1 campuses
Rusk Rehabilitation Center, 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

Jefferson City, MO · 27 miles
St. Louis, MO · 114 miles
Kansas City, MO · 120 miles
Springfield, MO · 132 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Columbia.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Columbia?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Columbia, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Centerpointe Hospital of Columbia, Ch Allied Services, Curators of the University of Missouri.

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 Columbia.

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

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Columbia has far more of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 11% under the Missouri median.