Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Respiratory therapists in Tucson manage ventilators and breathing treatments at TMC Health, Carondelet St. Joseph's and the Tucson VA. Arizona requires the RRT credential for a new license, and local RTs averaged $37.46 an hour in May 2025. Current openings are below, then who is hiring and how to qualify.
Current Respiratory Therapist Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Respiratory Therapist Work in Tucson
About 540 respiratory therapists worked in the Tucson metro in May 2025, according to BLS, and the hospitals are where the jobs are. TMC Health on Grant Road posts Respiratory Therapist I, II and III roles, including seasonal positions, Carondelet St. Joseph's on Wilmot Road hires night-shift RRTs, and the Tucson VA Medical Center on South Sixth Avenue hires registered respiratory therapists to care for veterans. Northwest Healthcare covers the northwest side and Oro Valley.
TMC's seasonal postings give new graduates and relocating therapists a short-term way into a Tucson hospital. Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, next to the University of Arizona, is Southern Arizona's only Level I trauma center.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Respiratory Therapists
These Tucson employers have posted or named respiratory therapist roles on their own careers sites:
- TMC Health - Respiratory Therapist I, II and III openings at Tucson Medical Center, including seasonal roles.
- Carondelet Health Network - full-time night Registered Respiratory Therapist openings at Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital.
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - posted a GS-11 registered respiratory therapist job at the Tucson VA Medical Center in summer 2026.
- Northwest Healthcare - respiratory therapists in rehabilitative and respiratory services at Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (new RRT): roughly $31 to $36 an hour.
- Experienced (3 to 7 years): roughly $36 to $42 an hour.
- Critical care, neonatal or lead therapist: roughly $42 to $50 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. BLS put the Tucson mean at $37.46 an hour in May 2025, and the VA's summer 2026 posting paid $93,779 to $121,919 a year at the GS-11 full performance level. Nights, weekends, ICU and NICU work and NBRC specialty credentials push pay toward the top.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Tucson
Pima Community College's Respiratory Care associate degree is the local program: two years full time, summers included, at West Campus on Anklam Road, in person or hybrid. It is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), and second-year students log more than 700 hours of clinical work in hospitals, clinics and long-term care. Graduates take the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams to earn the RRT. The Arizona Board of Respiratory Care Examiners requires the RRT for every new license, a rule in place since January 1, 2017, plus a fingerprint background check.
What the Job Involves
A respiratory therapist sets up and adjusts ventilators, gives breathing treatments and oxygen, draws and reads arterial blood gases, and runs to codes and rapid responses. In the ICU you help with intubations and wean patients off the vent. On the floors you see a full list of patients on 12-hour shifts, charting every treatment.
Skills Employers Look For
- The RRT credential and an Arizona respiratory care license
- Ventilator management and airway skills
- Blood gas sampling and interpretation
- BLS plus ACLS, and PALS or NRP for pediatric and neonatal work
- Quick, calm judgment in codes
- Willingness to work nights, weekends and seasonal or per diem shifts
Career Path and Advancement
TMC's own ladder runs Respiratory Therapist I, II and III. The usual path is to start as a staff RRT, then specialize in adult critical care, neonatal and pediatric care, pulmonary function or sleep with NBRC specialty credentials. From there therapists move into lead, supervisor and department manager roles, clinical education, or VA careers that climb the federal GS scale.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for respiratory therapists:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Arizona?
Yes. The Arizona Board of Respiratory Care Examiners licenses respiratory therapists, and since January 1, 2017 it requires the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential for a new license. Applicants also submit fingerprints for a background check.
How long does it take to become a respiratory therapist in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Respiratory Care degree takes two years full time, including summers, at West Campus. After graduation you pass the NBRC exams to earn the RRT and then apply for your Arizona license.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Tucson?
BLS put the Tucson mean at $37.46 an hour in May 2025. New RRTs usually start around $31 to $36 an hour, and critical care or lead therapists can reach $42 to $50. Night and weekend differentials can add to that.
Can you work in Arizona with only the CRT?
Not for a new license. Arizona is one of the states that require the RRT for new licensure, so a CRT holder needs to pass the NBRC's RRT exam before applying in Arizona.
Which Tucson employers hire the most respiratory therapists?
The hospitals: TMC Health, Carondelet St. Joseph's, Northwest Healthcare and the Tucson VA Medical Center. TMC also posts seasonal respiratory therapist roles alongside its permanent openings.
Ready to apply? Browse all respiratory therapist jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.