Respiratory Therapist

O*NET: Respiratory Therapists·29-1126.00

The Verdict:Respiratory therapists provide hands-on critical care — intubating airways, adjusting ventilators, responding to each patient's unique physiology. AI supports monitoring and data analysis without replacing physical interventions. Licensure and rising chronic respiratory conditions ensure stability.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$80k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+12.1%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 2 of 23 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
13 of 23 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 35% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

2exposed

8AI leverage

13human-essential

View all 23 tasks

AI Can Handle This2 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.

Relay blood analysis results to a physician.

AI Leverage8 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.

Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.

Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.

Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.

Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.

Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.

Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.

Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.

Human Advantage13 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.

Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.

Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.

Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.

Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.

Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.

Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.

Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.

Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.

Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.

Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.

Attend high-risk and caesarian section infant deliveries to provide neonatal respiratory care as needed.

Resilience Landscape

Respiratory Therapist lands in Stable & Well-Paid

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Respiratory Therapist

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