Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Madison, WI: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Madison, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $81.5K, within 3 percent of the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $80.5K to $98.3K.

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	WI	U.S.
25th	$80,520	$78,800	$74,520
Median	$81,530	$84,210	$82,280
75th	$98,300	$96,510	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

4.6

Metro employment

350

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

Stoughton Hospital Association, 3 campuses
Divine Savior Healthcare, 2 campuses
Club Staffing, 1 campuses
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Fitchburg, 1 campuses
Madison Bh, 1 campuses
Madison Rehabilitation 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

Janesville, WI · 35 miles
Rockford, IL · 60 miles
Milwaukee, WI · 74 miles
Dubuque, IA · 76 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Madison.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Madison?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Madison, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Stoughton Hospital Association, Divine Savior Healthcare, Club Staffing.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Wisconsin board before you start in Madison.

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

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Madison has slightly fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 3% under the Wisconsin median.