Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Waterloo, IA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Waterloo, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $65.1K, 21% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $62.9K to $77.1K.

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	IA	U.S.
25th	$62,860	$64,670	$74,520
Median	$65,070	$74,760	$82,280
75th	$77,100	$80,730	$98,730

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

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

7.4

Metro employment

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

Allen Memorial Hospital, 1 campuses
Covenant Medical Center, 1 campuses
Grundy County Memorial Hospital, 1 campuses
Sartori Memorial Hospital, 1 campuses
Sumner Community Club, 1 campuses
Waverly Health Center, 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

Cedar Rapids, IA · 50 miles
Iowa City, IA · 72 miles
Dubuque, IA · 84 miles
Des Moines, IA · 91 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Respiratory Therapist in Waterloo.

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

Upload your resume, see your match score, and let local employers find you

Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Waterloo?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Waterloo, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Allen Memorial Hospital, Covenant Medical Center, Grundy County Memorial Hospital.

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

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Iowa board before you start in Waterloo.

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

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Waterloo has slightly fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 13% under the Iowa median.