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The differences between respiratory therapists and occupational 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 respiratory therapist and an occupational therapist. Additionally, an occupational therapist has an average salary of $75,707, which is higher than the $55,617 average annual salary of a respiratory therapist.
The top three skills for a respiratory therapist include patients, respiratory care and BLS. The most important skills for an occupational therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.
| Respiratory Therapist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $55,617 | $75,707 |
| Hourly rate | $26.74 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 33,980 | 78,315 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 46 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
An occupational therapist specializes in treating patients who are recovering from illnesses or disabilities to help them adapt and overcome the physical and mental difficulties they face in their daily lives. The responsibilities of an occupational therapist revolve around examining a patient's medical history and conducting different kinds of assessments to determine what type of treatment a patient should receive. Furthermore, an occupational therapist must build rapport with a patient to make them feel at ease and coordinate with their guardian or family to discuss the recommended ways to help the patient adjust and recuperate.
Respiratory therapists and occupational therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Respiratory Therapist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Average salary | $55,617 | $75,707 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $91,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | Salinas, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Heartland Home Health Inc. | Waters |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a respiratory therapist and an occupational therapist in terms of educational background:
| Respiratory Therapist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Occupational Therapy |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between respiratory therapists' and occupational therapists' demographics:
| Respiratory Therapist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Average age | 46 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 14% |