Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Rockford, IL: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Rockford, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $77.6K, 6% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $73.4K to $89.5K.

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	IL	U.S.
25th	$73,420	$77,440	$74,520
Median	$77,640	$84,090	$82,280
75th	$89,470	$96,260	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

3.0

Metro employment

160

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

Illinois Department of Human Services, 1 campuses
Javon Bea Hospital, 1 campuses
Northwest Suburban Community Hospital, 1 campuses
Saint Anthony Medical Center, 1 campuses
Swedishamerican Hospital, 1 campuses
Van Matre Encompass Health 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 · 30 miles
Madison, WI · 60 miles
Kenosha, WI · 64 miles
Racine, WI · 71 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Rockford.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Rockford?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Rockford, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Illinois Department of Human Services, Javon Bea Hospital, Northwest Suburban Community Hospital.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Illinois board before you start in Rockford.

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

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Rockford has far more of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 8% under the Illinois median.