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The differences between radio technicians and respiratory therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a radio technician and a respiratory therapist. Additionally, a respiratory therapist has an average salary of $55,617, which is higher than the $39,253 average annual salary of a radio technician.
The top three skills for a radio technician include RF, test equipment and electronic equipment. The most important skills for a respiratory therapist are patients, respiratory care, and BLS.
| Radio Technician | Respiratory Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,253 | $55,617 |
| Hourly rate | $18.87 | $26.74 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 27,419 | 33,980 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Radiation therapy technicians are responsible for the administration of targeted radiation treatments to patients. They interact with patients on a regular basis and may combine physical tests with other therapy techniques. It will demand the skills of interpersonal communication, a background in radiology, a detail-oriented personality, and various technical skills.
A Respiratory Therapist is responsible for the healthcare of a patient's Cardiopulmonary system. A Respiratory Therapist specializes in assessing, recommending procedures or precautionary measures, and treating infections, diseases, and even viruses that can cause dysfunction to a patient's breathing. Most duties will depend on the workplace or the condition of a patient. However, they must have extensive expertise, passion, and presence of mind as they work with patients of all ages, and the daily tasks are vital and unpredictable.
Radio technicians and respiratory therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Radio Technician | Respiratory Therapist | |
| Average salary | $39,253 | $55,617 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $51,000 | Between $33,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Lancaster, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Heartland Home Health Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a radio technician and a respiratory therapist in terms of educational background:
| Radio Technician | Respiratory Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between radio technicians' and respiratory therapists' demographics:
| Radio Technician | Respiratory Therapist | |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |