Pediatric respiratory therapist jobs play an important role in supporting newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults who need respiratory care. Healthcare professionals in this specialized field help young patients with asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, chronic respiratory conditions, and breathing difficulties related to illness or premature birth. The need for skilled therapists continues to grow in children’s hospitals across New York and other major regions, outpatient programs, emergency departments, and home care services, which creates strong job opportunities for both new graduates and experienced therapists.
Respiratory therapists who want to build a career in pediatric care can find stable positions, strong benefits, and ongoing professional growth through a structured respiratory care program or staffing partner. The following guide explains what pediatric respiratory therapists do, the skills needed, where they work, and how to apply for high-demand roles across the country.
Pediatric respiratory therapists provide care for young patients who have trouble breathing or who need support to maintain healthy respiratory function. This includes treatment for acute illness, chronic respiratory conditions, and long-term management needs. Therapists work with children and young adults at different developmental stages, which requires strong clinical expertise and clear communication with families and caregivers.
Pediatric therapists assess respiratory conditions, perform pulmonary diagnostics, and support physicians and nurses in forming treatment plans. They also teach families how to manage equipment and medications at home when needed.
Pediatric respiratory therapy includes a wide range of tasks related to patient care. These responsibilities include:
Therapists also support emergency room and emergency department teams during respiratory distress or urgent breathing difficulties.
Pediatric respiratory therapists work in many settings because respiratory problems in children are common across different stages of life. This variety gives therapists flexibility in choosing the type of work environment that fits their goals.
Children’s hospitals hire respiratory therapists for neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, cardiothoracic programs, and pulmonary units. These hospitals often treat complex cases and provide specialized care for newborns and infants with respiratory illness.
Many children’s hospitals are ranked by US News & World Report based on clinical outcomes, quality of hospital resources, and standards for patient care. When pediatric respiratory therapists work in those hospitals, they are part of a healthcare team delivering the high level of respiratory support and specialized care required to meet those standards.
Pulmonary clinics, respiratory therapy centers, and long-term pediatric programs offer care outside the hospital. These settings often focus on asthma management, cystic fibrosis programs, and follow-up appointments for children recovering from illness.
Home care roles allow respiratory therapists to support young patients who need equipment such as continuous positive airway pressure devices, oxygen therapy, or home ventilators. Therapists teach families and caregivers how to manage these devices safely and how to monitor symptoms.
You can review available pediatric respiratory therapist positions and see which settings match your experience and goals by visiting our respiratory therapist staffing page.
Pediatric respiratory therapy is a specialized field that requires both technical and clinical strength. Therapists must be prepared to work with a wide range of respiratory conditions and patient ages.
A strong education foundation is important because therapists must respond quickly to changes in respiratory health.
Most positions require completion of an accredited respiratory care program. Students may earn an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy or respiratory care. Clinical rotations help students gain experience with pediatric patients, adults, and newborns before entering the workforce.
After completing their education, graduates apply for registered respiratory therapist or certified respiratory therapist credentials. The National Board for Respiratory Care sets the standards for these credentials. Some pediatric units also prefer additional preparation in neonatal and pediatric care.
Pediatric respiratory therapists must understand equipment and treatments commonly used in young patients. This includes continuous positive airway pressure, oxygen delivery systems, pulmonary diagnostics, and mechanical ventilation. Therapists must also understand how respiratory conditions affect breathing function at different ages.
Young patients experience respiratory conditions for many reasons, including infection, chronic illness, genetic conditions, and environmental triggers. Pediatric respiratory therapists help diagnose and treat these problems across all levels of care.
Asthma is one of the most common respiratory conditions in children. Therapists help with airway treatments, medication delivery, and education on how to manage symptoms at home. Asthma can cause sudden breathing difficulties, which makes pediatric respiratory therapy important in both acute and outpatient settings.
Children with cystic fibrosis need frequent airway clearance and chest physiotherapy. Pediatric respiratory therapists support these patients through routine treatments and help families understand home care steps.
Pneumonia, bronchiolitis, RSV, and viral infections can lead to significant respiratory difficulties in newborns, infants, and young children. Therapists provide respiratory support, breathing treatments, and monitoring during illness.
Some children are born with respiratory conditions that require ongoing management. Therapists play a long-term role in improving respiratory health and supporting patient care throughout childhood.
Healthcare providers continue to add pediatric respiratory therapy positions because the need for respiratory support has increased in recent years. Children with respiratory problems often require ongoing care, which creates strong employment opportunities.
Children’s hospitals are seeing more cases of premature births, chronic lung disease, and genetic respiratory conditions. This expands the need for therapists who understand pediatric care and can respond to complex respiratory needs.
Many hospitals, outpatient centers, and home care programs report shortages of respiratory therapists. This creates high demand for therapists who can fill specialized roles in both rural and urban areas.
Pediatric respiratory therapy offers strong career stability and daily opportunities to support young patients. Many therapists say the most rewarding part is helping a child breathe more easily or supporting a family through difficult moments.
Therapists also gain exposure to advanced respiratory treatments, specialized training, and long-term career pathways. This includes leadership roles, educator roles, and specialized positions in critical care or pulmonary diagnostics.
Healthcare employers seek respiratory therapists who can work safely with children of all ages and communicate clearly with families and caregivers. Hiring teams also value therapists with experience in pediatric units or training in specialized care.
Strong candidates show consistent attention to patient safety, a calm approach during respiratory distress, and the ability to work closely with nurses, physicians, and the healthcare team.
New graduates often start with general respiratory therapy experience and then move into pediatric respiratory therapist jobs through additional training or mentorship. Pediatric units also hire new graduates who complete a strong respiratory care program with pediatric rotations.
Experienced therapists who want to focus on pediatric care can apply to high-demand units in children’s hospitals, outpatient clinics, and home care services. Many programs offer specialized training that prepares therapists for more advanced roles.
If you want guidance on placements, respiratory therapist staffing partners like Flagstar Rehab in New York can help match you with pediatric, acute care, and home care positions that support your career goals.
Pediatric respiratory therapists can apply for a wide range of positions, including neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, emergency room respiratory support, pulmonary clinics, and home care programs. These positions give therapists the chance to work with young patients and support better respiratory health at different stages of life.
Flagstar Rehab connects respiratory therapists with hospitals and healthcare providers that offer strong support, stable schedules, and growth opportunities. You can apply for pediatric respiratory therapist jobs and explore roles that match your clinical expertise and career goals.
Pediatric respiratory therapist jobs offer a strong career path for healthcare professionals who want to support infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with respiratory needs. This field provides meaningful work, steady growth, and opportunities to build advanced clinical skills across hospital units, outpatient programs, and home care settings. Whether you are a new graduate or an experienced therapist, the demand for pediatric respiratory care roles continues to rise, creating a reliable path for long-term professional growth.
If you are ready to apply for pediatric respiratory therapist jobs or want support finding a position that matches your skills, Flagstar Rehab in New York can help you move forward with confidence. Our team connects respiratory therapists with trusted hospitals, clinics, and home care programs that value clinical expertise and patient-focused care. Start your application today through Flagstar Rehab and explore high-demand roles that support your career goals and the needs of young patients.
Pediatric respiratory therapists treat infants, children, and adolescents with respiratory conditions. They perform breathing treatments, manage ventilators, and monitor breathing function during care. They also teach families how to support respiratory health at home.
The highest paid respiratory therapist roles are in critical care, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, and travel respiratory therapy. These positions often require advanced clinical expertise and experience with mechanical ventilation. Pay varies by location, shift, and specialty.
Respiratory therapists in New York earn an average of $75,000 to $95,000 per year, depending on experience and certification. Hospitals with high acuity units may offer higher rates or shift differentials. Contract and travel roles can pay more based on demand.
It takes about two years to complete an accredited associate degree in respiratory therapy. Some students choose a four-year bachelor’s degree for expanded opportunities. After graduation, candidates must pass licensing exams before starting work.