Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Little Rock, AR: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Little Rock, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $75.3K, 8% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $63.1K to $78.3K.

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	AR	U.S.
25th	$63,120	$63,120	$74,520
Median	$75,300	$73,870	$82,280
75th	$78,300	$78,520	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

1.8

Metro employment

530

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

Arkansas Heart Hospital, 2 campuses
Baptist Health, 2 campuses
Little Rock Vamc, 2 campuses
Saline Hospital, 2 campuses
St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, 2 campuses
Allegiance Hospital of North Little Rock, 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

Fort Smith, AR · 122 miles
Texarkana, TX · 132 miles
Fayetteville, AR · 138 miles
Memphis, TN · 138 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Little Rock.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Little Rock?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Little Rock, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Arkansas Heart Hospital, Baptist Health, Little Rock Vamc.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Arkansas board before you start in Little Rock.

What should a hospital in Little Rock weigh when hiring an RT?

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