Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Harrisburg, PA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Harrisburg, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $78.8K, 4% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $64.1K to $81.2K.

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	PA	U.S.
25th	$64,070	$66,940	$74,520
Median	$78,750	$78,490	$82,280
75th	$81,230	$87,620	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

6.5

Metro employment

410

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

Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, 6 campuses
the Milton S Hershey Medical Center, 6 campuses
Oss Orthopaedic Hospital, 2 campuses
Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, 2 campuses
Pinnacle Health Hospitals, 2 campuses
Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals, 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

York, PA · 23 miles
Lancaster, PA · 35 miles
Chambersburg, PA · 47 miles
Reading, PA · 51 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Harrisburg.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Harrisburg?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Harrisburg, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, the Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Oss Orthopaedic Hospital.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Pennsylvania board before you start in Harrisburg.

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

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Harrisburg has far more of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Pennsylvania median.