Ventilator vs respiratory therapist

The differences between ventilators and respiratory therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a ventilator has an average salary of $61,321, which is higher than the $55,617 average annual salary of a respiratory therapist.

The top three skills for a ventilator include respiratory care, patients and pediatrics. The most important skills for a respiratory therapist are patients, respiratory care, and BLS.

Ventilator vs respiratory therapist overview

	Ventilator	Respiratory Therapist
Yearly salary	$61,321	$55,617
Hourly rate	$29.48	$26.74
Growth rate	14%	14%
Number of jobs	19,348	33,980
Job satisfaction	-	3.33
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 56%	Associate Degree, 70%
Average age	43	46
Years of experience	-	12

Ventilator vs respiratory therapist salary

Ventilators and respiratory therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Ventilator	Respiratory Therapist
Average salary	$61,321	$55,617
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $111,000	Between $33,000 And $91,000
Highest paying City	-	Lancaster, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Heartland Home Health Inc.
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between ventilator and respiratory therapist education

There are a few differences between a ventilator and a respiratory therapist in terms of educational background:

	Ventilator	Respiratory Therapist
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 56%	Associate Degree, 70%
Most common major	Medical Technician	Medical Technician
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Ventilator vs respiratory therapist demographics

Here are the differences between ventilators' and respiratory therapists' demographics:

	Ventilator	Respiratory Therapist
Average age	43	46
Gender ratio	Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3%	Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	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	5%	9%

Differences between ventilator and respiratory therapist duties and responsibilities

Ventilator example responsibilities.

Manage artificial airways, mechanically ventilate patients, pulmonary rehab patients and perform CPR in code situations.
Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Perform ABG's and maintain the IRMA ABG machine.
Care, suctioning, bronchial hygiene therapy and nebulizer treatment.
Experience in ABG sampling including radial, brachial, and femoral sites.
General patient care, initiate and maintain intravenous therapy, and operate 12-lead EKG.

Respiratory therapist example responsibilities.

Manage ventilators through morning planning and protocols for trauma, ICU, and open heart unit.
Manage artificial airways, mechanically ventilate patients, pulmonary rehab patients and perform CPR in code situations.
Perform diagnostic procedures such as EEG, PFT, and Bronchoscopy.
Perform all aspects of respiratory care from intubation to ventilation, and medication delivery.
Provide critical care services including mechanical ventilation, pulmonary toilet, respiratory pharmacological medicine, overall respiratory evaluation and observation.
Attend and complete ACLS, BLS, and telemetry monitoring certification courses.

Ventilator vs respiratory therapist skills

Common ventilator skills

Respiratory Care, 12%
Patients, 12%
Pediatrics, 11%
BLS, 6%
EKG, 5%
Critical Care, 5%

Common respiratory therapist skills

Patients, 18%
Respiratory Care, 11%
BLS, 8%
RRT, 7%
Acls, 5%
Ventilation, 4%