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

In Pittsburgh, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $75.5K, 8% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $64.3K to $79.9K.

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	$64,270	$66,940	$74,520
Median	$75,470	$78,490	$82,280
75th	$79,910	$87,620	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

6.3

Metro employment

1,220

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

West Penn Allegheny Health System, 8 campuses
Community Birth Group, 4 campuses
Valley Medical Facilities, 4 campuses
Ahn Emerus Westmoreland, 3 campuses
Jefferson Regional Medical Center, 3 campuses
Kindred Hospitals East, 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

Weirton, WV · 31 miles
Johnstown, PA · 56 miles
Youngstown, OH · 57 miles
Canton, OH · 77 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Pittsburgh.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Pittsburgh?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Pittsburgh, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include West Penn Allegheny Health System, Community Birth Group, Valley Medical Facilities.

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 Pittsburgh.

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

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Pittsburgh has a deeper bench of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 4% under the Pennsylvania median.