Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Detroit, MI: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Detroit, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $80.8K, within 3 percent of the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $77.4K to $86.0K.

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	MI	U.S.
25th	$77,410	$71,740	$74,520
Median	$80,790	$79,850	$82,280
75th	$85,970	$83,020	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

5.5

Metro employment

1,910

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

William Beaumont Hospital, 10 campuses
Henry Ford Health St. John Hospital, 8 campuses
Henry Ford Hospital, 7 campuses
Oakwood Healthcare, 4 campuses
Detroit Medical Center, 3 campuses
Detroit Medical Centre, 2 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

Ann Arbor, MI · 33 miles
Monroe, MI · 35 miles
Flint, MI · 53 miles
Toledo, OH · 55 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Detroit.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Detroit?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Detroit, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include William Beaumont Hospital, Henry Ford Health Saint John Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Michigan board before you start in Detroit.

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

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