Annual Earnings

• In 2009, respiratory therapist technicians earned an average salary of $45,680 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This figure is built from technician salaries across the spectrum --- the highest paid respiratory therapy technicians earned an average of $65,020 in the 90th percentile and only $28,740 in the 10th percentile.
  
  

Best Locations

• Respiratory therapy technicians taking a gamble with employment in Nevada earned the country's highest salaries in 2009, with annual wages of $67,990. Maryland placed second in the BLS' top-paying states for respiratory technician salaries list, at $65,340 per year. New Jersey was third with average salaries at $59,990, followed closely by Vermont at $59,360 per year. New Hampshire closed out the top five with annual salaries of $57,810.
  
  

Learning to Breathe

• While the act of breathing comes naturally to most at birth, teaching people how to relearn the process after accident, illness, injury or long-term disability is a complicated procedure. Prospective respiratory technicians train for their salaries by attending one of the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care-accredited programs, such as Concorde Career College in North Hollywood, The University of Texas at Brownsville, Harrisburg Area Community College, Monroe County Community College and Black River Technical College. Unlike the actual respiratory therapists, technicians do not require licensing.
  
  

The Road Ahead

• The outlook for respiratory therapy technician employment isn't positive. The BLS expects the field to lose 1 percent of its jobs between 2008 and 2018, an overall reduction of 200 jobs. Part of the reduced demand for respiratory therapy technicians is attributed to respiratory therapists performing more of the work themselves.