Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Des Moines, IA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Des Moines, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $75.7K, 8% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $63.8K to $78.8K.

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	IA	U.S.
25th	$63,790	$64,670	$74,520
Median	$75,650	$74,760	$82,280
75th	$78,800	$80,730	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

7.1

Metro employment

200

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

Central Iowa Hospital, 2 campuses
Dallas County Hospital, 2 campuses
Mentor Abi, 2 campuses
Broadlawns Medical Center, 1 campuses
Catholic Health Initiatives - Iowa, 1 campuses
Childserve Specialty 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

Waterloo, IA · 91 miles
Cedar Rapids, IA · 103 miles
Iowa City, IA · 108 miles
Omaha, NE · 128 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Des Moines.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Des Moines?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Des Moines, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Central Iowa Hospital, Dallas County Hospital, Mentor Abi.

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 Des Moines.

What should a hospital in Des Moines weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Des Moines has barely half as many of these workers as a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Iowa median.