Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Kansas City, MO
Respiratory therapists in Kansas City work ICUs, emergency departments and neonatal units at Children's Mercy, University Health, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, KU Health and Saint Luke's, and Children's Mercy has posted a $29.66 an hour start. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to get licensed.
Current respiratory therapist Openings in Kansas City, MO
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Respiratory Therapist Work in Kansas City
Respiratory care in Kansas City is hospital work, and the demand follows the region's ICUs and emergency departments. On the Missouri side, Children's Mercy staffs neonatal, pediatric and transport therapists out of Adele Hall on Gillham Road, and University Health Truman Medical Center on Hospital Hill runs a busy adult respiratory department with day, night and PRN shifts. Saint Luke's adds therapists across its hospitals. Across State Line Road, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission on West 74th Street and KU Health's Olathe Hospital hire certified and registered therapists, many on 12-hour nights.
Licensing shapes the Kansas City market more than most roles. Missouri and Kansas each license respiratory therapists through their own boards, so a therapist who wants to work both sides of the state line holds two licenses. Children's Mercy, which operates in both states, asks new hires for a Missouri license and a Kansas license within a year.
Top Kansas City Employers for Respiratory Therapists
These health systems hire respiratory therapists across the Kansas City metro:
- Children's Mercy Kansas City - the pediatric system hires bedside, neonatal and transport respiratory therapists at Adele Hall, including night shifts.
- University Health - the public academic system hires registered respiratory therapists at University Health Truman Medical Center, full time and PRN.
- AdventHealth Shawnee Mission - the Johnson County hospital hires certified respiratory therapists for full-time nights, NICU and PRN.
- The University of Kansas Health System - the academic medical center hires respiratory therapists, including CRT nights at Olathe Hospital.
- Saint Luke's Health System - the multi-hospital system hires registered respiratory therapists across its Kansas City campuses.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Kansas City
- Entry level: about $24 to $30 an hour for new graduates and CRTs.
- Experienced: roughly $31 to $38 an hour for RRTs with ICU experience.
- Senior / specialty: about $39 to $45 an hour for NICU, transport and lead therapists.
These are estimates built from posted ranges. Children's Mercy has posted a $29.66 starting rate for night-shift therapists at Adele Hall, and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission has posted $24.01 to $44.65 for a certified respiratory therapist on full-time nights. The RRT credential, night and weekend differentials, and neonatal or transport experience move pay the most.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Kansas City
You need an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited respiratory care program and a credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care: the CRT, and for most hospital jobs the RRT. Locally, Johnson County Community College in Overland Park offers a 68-credit Respiratory Care associate degree with clinicals at 11 partner hospitals, and Kansas City Kansas Community College on State Avenue runs an accredited Respiratory Care associate degree. To practice in Missouri you need a license from the Missouri Board for Respiratory Care in the Division of Professional Registration. Kansas jobs need a license from the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts.
What the Job Involves
Respiratory therapists assess breathing, set up and manage ventilators and noninvasive ventilation, give breathing treatments, draw and analyze arterial blood gases, and respond to rapid-response and code calls. They also suction airways, support intubation, run oxygen therapy and teach patients and families how to use home equipment. In neonatal and pediatric units the work includes delivery-room resuscitation and transport of critically ill infants.
Skills Employers Look For
- RRT or CRT from the NBRC
- A Missouri or Kansas respiratory care license, or both
- Mechanical and noninvasive ventilation management
- Arterial blood gas sampling and analysis
- BLS, plus PALS and NRP for pediatric and neonatal roles
- Calm judgment during codes and rapid responses
Career Path and Advancement
Most Kansas City therapists start as CRTs or new-graduate RRTs on adult floors or nights, then move into adult ICU, neonatal or pediatric critical care at hospitals such as Children's Mercy. From there the ladder runs to transport therapist, clinical educator, lead therapist and respiratory care supervisor, with roles at University Health and Children's Mercy posted at the supervisor level.
Related Careers in Kansas City
If respiratory care interests you, these Kansas City healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Kansas City?
Yes. Missouri licenses respiratory therapists through the Missouri Board for Respiratory Care, and Kansas licenses them through the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. A therapist who works on both sides of State Line Road needs both licenses.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Kansas City?
New therapists generally start around $24 to $30 an hour, experienced RRTs earn roughly $31 to $38, and NICU, transport or lead therapists can reach about $45 an hour. These are estimates from posted employer ranges, and night differentials add to them.
Do Kansas City hospitals hire new graduate respiratory therapists?
Yes. Children's Mercy has posted night-shift jobs open to new graduates, who get 180 days to earn the RRT. Most hospitals expect at least the CRT and a state license or a pending application at hire.
Where can I study respiratory therapy in Kansas City?
Johnson County Community College in Overland Park and Kansas City Kansas Community College both offer CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care associate degrees of about two years. Graduates sit for the NBRC exams that lead to the CRT and RRT.
Is a CRT enough to work in Kansas City?
A CRT opens some jobs, such as certified therapist roles at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and KU Health's Olathe Hospital. Many hospital jobs, including those at Children's Mercy, University Health and Saint Luke's, ask for the RRT, so most therapists earn it early.
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