Respiratory therapist jobs NYC continue to grow across major hospitals, outpatient centers, long-term care, and specialty programs in New York. Many facilities in New York, NY, are expanding respiratory therapy services to support higher patient volumes, advanced ventilation needs, and specialized pulmonary care. This creates steady opportunities for new graduates, experienced clinicians, travel respiratory therapist applicants, and registered respiratory therapist candidates who want stable roles with competitive benefits.
Healthcare systems in New York need respiratory care professionals who can follow established protocols, collaborate with physicians and clinical teams, communicate clearly with patients, and provide safe care across different units. This guide explains what to expect when applying for respiratory therapist jobs, what minimum qualifications employers request, and how Flagstar Rehab can support your job search and professional growth.
Respiratory therapy is a clinical field focused on helping patients who have difficulty breathing or require cardiopulmonary support. A respiratory therapist works with patients across emergency care, intensive care, step-down units, rehabilitation, and pediatric settings. Many jobs in New York include day, evening, night, weekend, and per-diem shifts, giving applicants flexibility in scheduling. Respiratory therapist jobs in NYC include positions for registered, certified, and associate-level therapists. Employers often look for candidates who demonstrate clinical competency, can perform respiratory therapy procedures accurately, and are skilled with respiratory therapy equipment.
Many major facilities, such as Mount Sinai, Hospital for Special Surgery, and NYC Health hospitals, hire throughout the year. These organizations offer respiratory therapy services in critical care, pulmonary labs, long-term ventilator units, sleep programs, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Each setting requires licensed professionals who follow established protocols and clinical practice guidelines while maintaining high-quality patient care.
Respiratory therapist jobs appear across many settings, each with different expectations and levels of independence.
Many hospitals prefer hiring a registered respiratory therapist for advanced units. These roles require higher clinical competency, ventilator management skills, and experience with physiologic tests. The registered level often includes responsibilities purpose such as supervising respiratory therapy procedures or guiding department protocols.
A certified respiratory therapist can qualify for roles in long-term care, subacute rehab, outpatient settings, and smaller acute care units. A certified clinician may work under closer technical direction or may focus on basic respiratory therapy procedures.
Some employers hire associate respiratory therapist candidates who recently finished an associate degree program or a program determined to be equivalent. These roles may include typical tasks such as equipment setup, oxygen delivery support, data obtained documentation, and basic patient care activities where personnel perform related work under guidance.
Travel respiratory therapist positions in New York, NY, offer short-term contracts. These roles often request clinical experience in mechanical ventilation, airway management, pulmonary function testing, and independent initiative during patient care tasks.
Respiratory therapists manage multiple tasks that support patients with impaired breathing, chronic lung disease, or airway compromise. A successful candidate should feel comfortable performing respiratory therapy procedures and following the functions required for each unit.
Common responsibilities include:
Most departments use clinical practice guidelines created by internal teams, national groups, or board authorities. Respiratory therapists are expected to demonstrate clinical competency through simulation, direct observation, or documented evidence provided during onboarding.
Hospitals and outpatient centers in New York often show clear minimum qualifications in their postings. These qualifications help verify that each applicant has the background needed for safe patient care.
Applicants typically complete one of the following recognized training pathways:
Respiratory therapy positions require a current New York State respiratory therapy license, an active CRT or RRT credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), and documented evidence of education and clinical experience.
Applicants may use professional licensing services if they need help with board applications or missing forms. Many job posts mention whichever occurs to describe deadlines related to state updates or renewal timelines.
Employers look for:
Applicants may also need to describe independent initiative, patient care examples, and prior work under the technical direction of a duly licensed physician.
Respiratory therapist jobs in NYC include a wide range of benefits depending on the employer. Large facilities and public systems often include a competitive benefits package that supports new hires and employees hired into full-time roles.
Common benefits include:
Schedules may include day, evening, night, weekend, or rotating shifts. Some facilities offer fixed schedules while others request flexibility across units.
New York has many hospitals and healthcare organizations that hire respiratory therapists throughout the year, including Mount Sinai and its affiliated campuses, Special Surgery and its pulmonary programs, NYC Health facilities across all boroughs, long-term care centers, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient pulmonary clinics.
These hospitals offer respiratory therapy services in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and home care programs. Units vary widely, and each employer may have different licensure requirements and equipment preferences.
Many respiratory therapist jobs in NYC use an online system. This allows applicants to upload credentials, resumes, references, and documented evidence of licensure. After submitting a profile, applicants may receive receiving notice from hiring departments or HR teams with the next steps.
A typical process includes:
An employer may also request signed forms for education license verification or completion of specialized training.
If you want steady work and a clear hiring process, Flagstar Rehab supports respiratory therapists with job matching, credential guidance, and reliable placements across New York. Start your application through our respiratory therapist staffing page.
Hiring teams want to confirm that each respiratory therapist has clinical competency appropriate for their role. This includes knowledge of physiologic tests, pulmonary function assessments, and mechanical ventilation setup.
A common competency table includes:
| Competency Area | What Employers Look For |
|---|---|
| Ventilation | Set up alarms, monitoring, and troubleshooting |
| Oxygen therapy | Safe use of cannula, masks, and high flow units |
| Pulmonary function | Spirometry, peak flow, and basic assessments |
| Diagnostics | ABG sampling and interpretation |
| Equipment | Ability to manage respiratory therapy equipment safely |
| Documentation | Clear record of patient care and data obtained |
| Team communication | Empathic communication and a person-centered approach |
Candidates may be tested on airway care scenarios and other typical tasks during interviews.
Looking for stable work, flexible assignments, or help finding the right facility match? Flagstar Rehab supports respiratory therapists across New York. Learn more through our respiratory therapist staffing services.
Flagstar Rehab helps respiratory therapists find positions that match their skill level, shift preferences, and long-term goals. The team supports applicants throughout the hiring process, from the first application to the start date.
Support includes guidance on how to apply online, help organizing license and registration documents, assistance in preparing for interviews, placement in facilities across New York, access to contract, per diem, temporary, and permanent roles, and support for professional growth across multiple care settings.
Respiratory therapist jobs in New York offer competitive pay, strong benefits, and steady demand across hospitals, rehab centers, and long-term care facilities. Candidates who meet state licensure requirements, follow clinical practice guidelines, and demonstrate clinical competency have access to a wide range of opportunities in acute care, specialty units, home care, and travel assignments. With the right preparation and current credentials, applicants can secure stable roles that support professional growth and consistent patient care.
If you want support with placement or need help finding roles that match your skills and preferred schedule, Flagstar Rehab connects respiratory therapists with hospitals and facilities across New York. Our team guides applicants through credential checks and job matching to help them secure steady assignments and reliable work environments. Explore current opportunities through our respiratory therapist staffing services.
Respiratory therapists in New York, NY often earn higher wages than in many regions due to the workload, patient acuity, and cost of living. Full-time respiratory therapists in New York City typically earn between $38 and $52 per hour, with some specialty or night-shift positions reaching the upper $50s. Some advanced roles for a registered respiratory therapist may reach higher pay levels depending on clinical experience, shift type, and unit needs. Travel assignments may offer different rates based on contract terms.
Respiratory therapy roles do not reach the 300k range. In New York, jobs with compensation near 300k are usually tied to specialized medical, executive, or high-level finance roles. Respiratory therapists typically earn steady and competitive hourly rates with benefits packages that include comprehensive health benefits, pension plans, weekly retirement savings, and other employer programs. These benefits add long-term value beyond hourly wages.
Yes. RTs remain in high demand in New York due to high patient volumes, chronic respiratory conditions, ventilator needs, and expanded respiratory therapy services across hospitals and long-term care facilities. Many departments hire throughout the year to maintain coverage for mechanical ventilation, pulmonary function testing, and critical care support. Demand is strong for both certified and registered respiratory therapist applicants.
Respiratory therapists tend to earn the highest wages in major metropolitan regions or systems that manage high-acuity patient care. This includes New York, NY; parts of California; Washington; and select hospital networks with specialized respiratory care programs. Pay varies by certification level, clinical experience, unit type, and scheduling needs, such as nights or weekends.