Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Washington, DC
Respiratory therapists in Washington earn well above the national median: BLS put the District's average at $45.79 an hour in May 2023, and Sibley Memorial pays $48 an hour on call. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get your DC license.
Current respiratory therapist Openings in Washington, DC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Respiratory Therapist Work in Washington
Respiratory care in the District runs through its hospital ICUs and emergency departments. On the Irving Street medical campus, Children's National runs a Respiratory Care Services team of nearly 100 professionals who manage ventilated children around the clock, staff ground and flight transport, and support extracorporeal life support. Sibley Memorial in the Palisades hires respiratory care practitioners with adult critical care experience, and east of the Anacostia, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center in Congress Heights, opened in April 2025, is hiring full-time registered respiratory therapists.
The job here looks different from Maryland or Virginia because the license is separate. Every therapist needs a DC license from the Board of Respiratory Care, and since February 2021 the Board has required license holders to keep their NBRC credential active. A therapist who wants to pick up shifts across the DMV needs a separate license in Maryland or Virginia as well.
Top Washington Employers Hiring Respiratory Therapists
These Washington hospitals employ respiratory therapists and list the role on their own sites:
- Sibley Memorial Hospital - the Johns Hopkins hospital in upper Northwest hires PRN respiratory care practitioners at $48 an hour on rotating shifts.
- Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center - the GW Health hospital in Ward 8 hires full-time day-shift registered respiratory therapists with acute care experience.
- Children's National Hospital - the pediatric hospital on Michigan Avenue NW runs a respiratory care team of nearly 100 professionals covering intensive care, ground and flight transport.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Washington
- Entry level: about $33 to $39 per hour for new graduates with a CRT or RRT.
- Experienced: roughly $40 to $48 per hour for RRTs with critical care experience.
- Senior / specialty: $48 to $55 per hour or more for neonatal, pediatric transport, ECMO and lead therapists.
These are estimates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the District's mean respiratory therapist wage at $45.79 an hour ($95,240 a year) in its May 2023 state data, and Sibley posts a flat $48 an hour for PRN work. The RRT credential, critical care and neonatal experience, night shifts and PRN status all move pay up, and DC requires employers to post pay ranges, so compare listings before you apply.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Washington
You need an associate degree or higher from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), a passing score on the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam for the CRT or RRT credential, and a license from the DC Board of Respiratory Care at DC Health. Most hospital postings ask for the RRT, plus BLS and often ACLS or PALS. CoARC-accredited programs in the region include Northern Virginia Community College's Medical Education Campus in Springfield and the College of Southern Maryland's Regional Hughesville Campus. Therapists licensed in another state can apply for a DC license by endorsement, and first-time applicants can ask the Board for written authorization to work under supervision for up to 90 days while their application is processed.
What the Job Involves
Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients who have trouble breathing. Daily work includes setting up and adjusting ventilators, giving breathing treatments and medical gases, drawing and analyzing arterial blood gases, responding to rapid response and code calls, assisting with intubation, and teaching patients and families how to use inhalers and home equipment. In pediatric hospitals the work extends to neonatal intensive care and patient transport.
Skills Employers Look For
- An active DC respiratory therapy license
- NBRC RRT credential, or CRT with RRT expected soon
- Ventilator management and arterial blood gas skills
- BLS, ACLS and, for pediatrics, PALS or NRP
- Calm judgment during codes and rapid responses
- Clear charting and teamwork with nurses and physicians
Career Path and Advancement
Most Washington therapists start as staff RRTs on adult floors or nights, often at a hospital like Cedar Hill or Sibley, then build critical care experience. From there the path runs to neonatal and pediatric critical care, transport teams and ECMO at Children's National, then to lead therapist, clinical educator, supervisor and director of respiratory care. Some move into pulmonary function testing or sleep medicine.
Related Careers in Washington
If respiratory care interests you, these Washington healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Washington, DC?
Yes. The DC Board of Respiratory Care licenses respiratory therapists, and a Maryland or Virginia license does not cover work in the District. You must also keep your NBRC credential active to renew.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Washington?
New graduates generally start around $33 to $39 an hour, experienced RRTs earn roughly $40 to $48, and specialty therapists can pass $55. BLS reported a District average of $45.79 an hour in May 2023.
Is CRT enough to get hired in DC, or do I need RRT?
The DC license accepts either the CRT or RRT exam, but Sibley and Cedar Hill both ask for the RRT in their postings. A CRT can get you licensed, but plan to earn the RRT if you want hospital work in the District.
How often do you renew a DC respiratory therapy license?
Every two years. Renewal requires 16 continuing education units, including at least 2 in ethics and 2 in LGBTQ cultural competency, and an active NBRC credential.
Where can I study respiratory therapy near Washington?
CoARC-accredited associate programs in the region include Northern Virginia Community College's Medical Education Campus in Springfield, VA, and the College of Southern Maryland's Regional Hughesville Campus. Both prepare you for the NBRC credentialing exams the DC license requires.
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