Career Paths From Respiratory Therapists

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Radiation TherapistsLateral Move93.2% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Radiation Therapists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Radiation Therapists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 28% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$105,310
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansLateral Move92.3% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 10% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$74,310
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Diagnostic Medical SonographersLateral Move93.4% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Diagnostic Medical Sonographers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 17% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$96,590
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Nurse AnesthetistsAdvancement94.6% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Nurse Anesthetists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Nurse Anesthetists is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 3). Median salary is about 188% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$236,590
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
5
Nuclear Medicine TechnologistsLateral Move93.7% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Nuclear Medicine Technologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Nuclear Medicine Technologists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 23% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$101,370
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Dental HygienistsLateral Move91.2% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Dental Hygienists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Dental Hygienists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 19% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$98,100
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansLateral Move95.9% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Veterinary Technologists and Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Veterinary Technologists and Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 42% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$47,380
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Surgical TechnologistsLateral Move91.2% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Surgical Technologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Surgical Technologists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 21% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$64,650
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
EmbalmersCareer Change90.4% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Embalmers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Embalmers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$58,780
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Dental AssistantsCareer Change90.9% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Dental Assistants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Dental Assistants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 42% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$48,070
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
AudiologistsAdvancement91.8% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Audiologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Audiologists is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 3). Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$95,780
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
5
Fish and Game WardensCareer Change93.2% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Fish and Game Wardens share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Fish and Game Wardens is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 10% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$74,060
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Power Distributors and DispatchersCareer Change89.8% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Power Distributors and Dispatchers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Power Distributors and Dispatchers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 30% higher.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$106,730
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersCareer Change91.1% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$79,920
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Prepress Technicians and WorkersCareer Change93% skill match
Respiratory Therapists and Prepress Technicians and Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Prepress Technicians and Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% lower.
Current median salary
$82,280
Target median salary
$48,690
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.