Jobs Similar to Respiratory Therapists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to respiratory therapists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Nurse Anesthetists, Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Nuclear Medicine Technologists.
Respiratory Therapists: $82,280 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Respiratory Therapists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nurse AnesthetistsSame group | 83% | $236,590+188% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 82% | $74,310−10% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 81% | $101,370+23% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Radiation TherapistsSame group | 80% | $105,310+28% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Anesthesiologist AssistantsSame group | 80% | $135,880Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 79% | $96,590+17% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | 79% | $95,480+16% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $80,110−3% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Surgical Assistants | 78% | $66,800−19% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Dental HygienistsSame group | 78% | $98,100+19% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 78% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 78% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 13 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $47,380−42% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 77% | $45,570−45% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Paramedics | 77% | $60,600−26% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 77% | $68,380−17% | Training or associate |
| 17 | RadiologistsSame group | 77% | $420,860+411% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Athletic Trainers | 76% | $62,520−24% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 76% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Acute Care NursesSame group | 76% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Nurse Anesthetists
83% similar · $236,590 (+188%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
82% similar · $74,310 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 3Nuclear Medicine Technologists
81% similar · $101,370 (+23%) · Training or associate
- 4Radiation Therapists
80% similar · $105,310 (+28%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Anesthesiologist Assistants
80% similar · $135,880 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
79% similar · $96,590 (+17%) · Training or associate
- 7Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
79% similar · $95,480 (+16%) · Training or associate
- 8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $80,110 (−3%) · Training or associate
- 9Surgical Assistants
78% similar · $66,800 (−19%) · Training or associate
- 10Dental Hygienists
78% similar · $98,100 (+19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
78% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 12Neurodiagnostic Technologists
78% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 13Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
78% similar · $47,380 (−42%) · Training or associate
- 14Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
77% similar · $45,570 (−45%) · Training or associate
- 15Paramedics
77% similar · $60,600 (−26%) · Training or associate
- 16Physical Therapist Assistants
77% similar · $68,380 (−17%) · Training or associate
- 17Radiologists
77% similar · $420,860 (+411%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18Athletic Trainers
76% similar · $62,520 (−24%) · Graduate degree
- 19Critical Care Nurses
76% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Acute Care Nurses
76% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than respiratory therapists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for respiratory therapists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where respiratory therapists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (92)
- Physical Therapist Assistants (87)
- Surgical Assistants (85)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (84)
- Paramedics (84)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (83)
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (83)
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists (82)
- Occupational Therapy Assistants (81)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (80)
Questions about jobs like respiratory therapists
What jobs are most similar to respiratory therapists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Nurse Anesthetists (83% similar), Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (82% similar), Nuclear Medicine Technologists (81% similar), Radiation Therapists (80% similar) and Anesthesiologist Assistants (80% similar).
Which jobs like respiratory therapists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +411%; usually a graduate degree), Nurse Anesthetists ($236,590, +188%; usually a graduate degree) and Radiation Therapists ($105,310, +28%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with respiratory therapists ($82,280). Without more preparation than respiratory therapists usually need: Radiation Therapists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Dental Hygienists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.