Respiratory Therapist Resume Example

How to write a respiratory therapist resume that lands interviews

A great respiratory therapist resume isn't a list of responsibilities — it's a tight stack of quantified outcomes, written in language an ATS scores and a human reader believes. Below: the 8 bullets a strong candidate uses, the 4 they avoid, the keywords the ATS expects, the pay figures to anchor your negotiation against, and the FAQs we hear most often.

Sample bullets — good vs weak

Each “good” bullet leads with the outcome, includes a measurable result, and shows scope. The “weak” versions describe activities without showing impact. Use these as templates; rewrite them in your own voice with your real numbers.

✅ Bullets that get the call

• Managed ventilators for up to 8 critical-care patients per shift, adjusting settings from blood gas results and physician orders.
• Responded to code and rapid-response calls throughout the hospital, preparing airway equipment and supporting ventilation until the team arrived.
• Performed arterial blood gas draws and analysis, reporting results to the physician within the unit's expected timeframe.
• Helped wean patients off ventilators using daily spontaneous breathing trials, supporting the unit's goal of earlier extubation.
• Delivered aerosol treatments and chest physiotherapy on a 30-bed medical floor, assessing breath sounds before and after each treatment.
• Set up and troubleshot noninvasive ventilation masks for patients with COPD exacerbations, keeping several out of the ICU.
• Taught inhaler and spacer technique to 25 patients before discharge, using return demonstration to confirm understanding.
• Ran spirometry and pulmonary function testing for the outpatient clinic, with clean, reproducible tracings for physician review.

❌ Bullets to rewrite

• Gave breathing treatments.
• Worked with ventilators.
• Calm under pressure.
• Charted patient care.

ATS keywords to weave into your bullets

The four-component ATS rubric weights keyword density inside experience bullets more heavily than the keywords-only skills section. These are the 14+ keywords most often scored on a respiratory therapist resume — fold them into your bullets where they're honestly applicable.

Respiratory Therapist salary

Annual pay across the United States, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of these workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile figures. Your offer will depend on the state, the employer and the shift.

Want a deeper salary breakdown by city + role + experience? See the full Respiratory Therapist salary guide →

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

• Listing treatments without context

  Fix: State the unit, the patient group and how many patients you managed.
• Burying credentials

  Fix: Put RRT, CRT, BLS and ACLS in a clear section with dates.
• Omitting emergency work

  Fix: Include code, rapid response and transport experience.
• No equipment named

  Fix: Name ventilators, blood gas analyzers and testing equipment you have used.

ATS tips specific to respiratory therapist resumes

• Write 'Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)' or 'Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)' in full.
• Spell out 'mechanical ventilation' and 'arterial blood gas' rather than relying on abbreviations alone.
• List unit types as plain text: 'adult ICU', 'NICU', 'pulmonary function lab'.
• Include state licensure with the state name and expiration date.

Frequently asked questions