The person who teaches respiratory therapy students — covering pulmonary function, ventilator management, oxygen therapy, and the clinical procedures respiratory therapists perform. Half academic instructor, half practicing or recently practicing RT.
Most days tend to involve a blend of classroom instruction, simulation lab work, and clinical supervision — leading didactic content, supervising students on respiratory simulators, and partnering with hospitals that host clinical rotations. You'll often spend part of the time on board prep and part on the curriculum and accreditation fabric.
The harder part is often balancing the clinical procedural depth with the breadth of pulmonary content students need for boards and practice. You'll typically work with students at varied science readiness, while maintaining the technical standards respiratory practice requires.
People who tend to thrive here are clinically expert in respiratory care, patient teachers, and comfortable in academic environments. The trade-off is the salary differential between academic and clinical respiratory practice and the cumulative work of teaching, scholarship, and service. If you find satisfaction in shaping the next generation of respiratory therapists, the work can carry quiet, durable impact.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
The person who teaches respiratory therapy students — covering pulmonary function, ventilator management, oxygen therapy, and the clinical procedures respiratory therapists perform. Half academic instructor, half practicing or recently practicing RT.
Median pay for a Respiratory Therapy Instructor is about $106K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $52K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Active Learning.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 17.3% through 2034, with roughly 229,720 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Health Teacher, First Aid Teacher, and Clinical Instructor.
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