Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Respiratory therapists are among Tucson's most in-demand allied-health professionals, and Arizona holds them to a high bar: the state requires the advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, not just the entry-level certification, plus a state license. Pima Community College's two-year Respiratory Care program trains them in a dedicated pulmonary lab at its Health Professions Center of Excellence, with 700 clinical hours at local hospitals. The hospital systems, the VA, and sleep and home-respiratory providers all hire RRTs, and average pay in Tucson runs around $70,000.
Current Respiratory Therapist Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapy jobs in Tucson are concentrated in hospitals, with growing demand in specialty and outpatient settings. Each link lands on current openings:
- Banner University Medical Center Tucson - the academic medical center hiring RRTs for ICU, the emergency department, and the NICU.
- TMC Health - the east-side hospital system hiring respiratory therapists across critical care and general units.
- Carondelet and Northwest - hospital respiratory-care roles across St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, and the Northwest facilities.
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - the Tucson VA hiring RRTs to care for veterans with pulmonary conditions.
- Sleep labs and home respiratory - sleep-medicine labs and home-oxygen and pulmonary providers hiring for outpatient roles.
- Long-term acute care and skilled nursing - LTAC and skilled-nursing facilities hiring RRTs for vent-dependent patients.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Tucson
- Entry-level (new RRT): about $58,000 - $67,000 per year ($28 - $32 per hour)
- Experienced: about $67,000 - $77,000 per year ($32 - $37 per hour)
- Senior / specialty (ICU, NICU, ECMO, sleep): about $79,000 - $95,000+ per year ($38 - $46 per hour)
These are estimates that vary by setting, specialty, and shift. The Tucson average runs around $70,000, hospital roles add night and weekend differentials, and NBRC specialty credentials like adult critical care (RRT-ACCS), neonatal-pediatric (RRT-NPS), or sleep (RRT-SDS) push pay toward the top. Acute-care hospitals offer the strongest base pay and education benefits.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Tucson
The local route is Pima Community College's Respiratory Care associate degree, a two-year CoARC-accredited program that costs roughly $12,574 and includes 700 clinical hours at local hospitals in the second year, preparing you for the National Board for Respiratory Care exams. Arizona requires a state license through the Arizona State Board of Respiratory Care Examiners, and notably the state requires the advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential rather than just the entry-level CRT - one of only a handful of states to do so. You will also need BLS and typically ACLS, PALS, and NRP for hospital work.
What the Job Involves
A Tucson respiratory therapist manages patients' breathing: setting up and adjusting ventilators, delivering breathing treatments and oxygen, drawing and interpreting blood gases, responding to codes and assisting with intubations, and assessing lung function. Much of the work is in high-acuity hospital settings - the ICU, ER, and NICU - on 12-hour shifts, while outpatient roles in sleep labs and home respiratory run more predictable hours. It is fast-paced, hands-on, critical-care work where quick judgment matters.
Skills Employers Look For
- An Arizona respiratory care license and the RRT credential
- Ventilator management and airway skills
- Critical-care assessment and blood-gas interpretation
- BLS plus ACLS, PALS, or NRP for hospital roles
- Calm, decisive judgment in emergencies
- NBRC specialty credentials for advancement
Career Path & Advancement
Respiratory care offers a strong ladder in Tucson. Most therapists start as staff RRTs, then specialize in critical care, neonatal-pediatric, ECMO, pulmonary function, or sleep medicine, each adding pay and responsibility. From there, experienced RRTs move into lead or charge roles, respiratory-care management, or clinical education, and some pursue a bachelor's in respiratory therapy to open leadership and advanced-practice paths. Specialization is the clearest route to the top of the pay range.
Related Careers in Tucson
If you are exploring hospital and critical-care careers in Tucson, these related guides are worth a look:
- Registered Nurse Jobs in Tucson, AZ
- Healthcare Jobs in Tucson, AZ
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs in Tucson, AZ
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Tucson?
Yes. Arizona requires respiratory therapists to hold a state license through the Arizona State Board of Respiratory Care Examiners, and the state specifically requires the advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care. Hospital roles also expect BLS and often ACLS, PALS, or NRP.
How long does it take to become a respiratory therapist in Tucson?
The standard route is a two-year associate degree, such as Pima Community College's CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care program, which includes 700 clinical hours at local hospitals and prepares you for the NBRC exams. Some therapists later add a bachelor's degree to advance into leadership.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Tucson?
Entry-level RRTs in Tucson generally earn about $28 to $32 per hour, experienced therapists roughly $32 to $37 per hour, and senior or specialty roles in ICU, NICU, ECMO, or sleep medicine around $38 to $46 per hour or more. The Tucson average is around $70,000, with hospital shift differentials on top.
Why does Arizona require the RRT credential?
Arizona is one of only a handful of states that require the advanced Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential to practice, rather than accepting the entry-level Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). The RRT reflects a higher level of clinical expertise, and most Tucson hospitals build their staffing around it.
How do respiratory therapists earn more in Tucson?
The main way to raise pay is to specialize. Earning NBRC specialty credentials in adult critical care (RRT-ACCS), neonatal-pediatric care (RRT-NPS), or sleep disorders (RRT-SDS), or working ECMO and high-acuity units, qualifies you for premium pay. Night, weekend, and charge roles add more.
Ready to start? Browse all respiratory therapist jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.