Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Respiratory therapists in Indianapolis earn a metro median near $39.29 an hour, and the region's own training consortium holds classes inside IU Health Methodist. ICUs, NICUs and long-term acute care hospitals keep demand steady. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to get your Indiana license.
Current respiratory therapist Openings in Indianapolis, IN
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Respiratory Therapist Work in Indianapolis
Respiratory therapy jobs in Indianapolis follow the intensive care beds. IU Health hires therapists for Riley Hospital for Children, including the NICU in its maternity tower, and for Riley North in Carmel, while its Methodist hospital hosts the region's respiratory therapy degree program. On the north side, Ascension St. Vincent on West 86th Street and Community Hospital North off 82nd Street in the Castleton area both staff respiratory departments, and Community covers the NICU at Community East on Ritter Avenue.
Long-term acute care adds another layer. Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North, a long-term acute care hospital for patients who need extended hospital stays, has offered a $15,000 sign-on bonus for full-time night therapists. Community Hospital North's night line runs 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., a typical hospital schedule here.
Top Indianapolis Employers for Respiratory Therapists
These Indianapolis hospitals hire licensed respiratory therapists for adult, pediatric, neonatal and long-term acute care:
- IU Health - hires registered respiratory therapists for Riley Hospital for Children, its maternity tower NICU and Riley North in Carmel, and hosts the regional RT degree program at Methodist.
- Community Health Network - hires therapists for Community Hospital North on Clearvista Drive, including 12-hour night shifts, and for the NICU at Community East.
- Ascension St. Vincent - the north side system hires certified respiratory therapists at its 86th Street hospital.
- Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North - the ScionHealth long-term acute care hospital hires full-time night therapists and has paid sign-on bonuses.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Indianapolis
- Entry level: about $31 to $34 per hour for newly licensed therapists.
- Experienced: roughly $34 to $41 per hour for registered therapists in critical care.
- Senior: about $41 to $46 or more per hour for neonatal, pediatric, lead and educator roles.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Indianapolis metro, where the annual median is about $81,720. The RRT credential, neonatal and pediatric specialty certifications, night and weekend shifts, and sign-on bonuses at long-term acute care hospitals all move pay up.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Indianapolis
Indiana requires a respiratory care practitioner (RCP) license, issued through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency on the recommendation of the Indiana Respiratory Care Committee. You need to graduate from an approved respiratory care program and pass a board-approved national exam, which in practice means the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam from the National Board for Respiratory Care. Renewal costs $100 and is done online. Local programs include the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy from the Indiana Respiratory Therapy Education Consortium, taught at IU Health Methodist and offered through IU Indianapolis and the University of Indianapolis, and the Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy at Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis (71 credits, seven semesters), which holds provisional CoARC accreditation.
What the Job Involves
Respiratory therapists assess breathing, run and adjust ventilators, give nebulizer and oxygen treatments, draw and analyze arterial blood gases, and manage airways during intubation and emergencies. They respond to rapid response and code calls, help wean patients off ventilators, attend high-risk deliveries in neonatal units, and teach patients with asthma or COPD how to use their equipment at home.
Skills Employers Look For
- Indiana RCP license and NBRC CRT or RRT credential
- Ventilator management and airway skills
- Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
- BLS and ACLS, with PALS or NRP for pediatric and neonatal units
- Quick judgment during codes and rapid responses
- Clear charting and teamwork with nurses and physicians
Career Path and Advancement
Many Indianapolis therapists start with a CRT on adult floors or nights, earn the RRT, and move into ICU, neonatal or pediatric work at Riley or Community East. From there the ladder runs to team lead, clinical educator and department manager, and some move into pulmonary function testing, sleep medicine or critical care transport. Earning the RRT early opens the most doors.
Related Careers in Indianapolis
If respiratory care interests you, these related Indianapolis healthcare roles are close matches:
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Surgical Technologist Jobs
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Indiana?
Yes. Indiana requires a respiratory care practitioner license through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Indiana Respiratory Care Committee. You qualify by graduating from an approved program and passing the national CRT exam from the NBRC.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Indianapolis?
Federal wage data puts the Indianapolis metro median near $39.29 an hour, or about $81,720 a year. Most therapists earn between about $31 and $46 an hour, with neonatal, pediatric and night work toward the top.
Do I need the RRT or is the CRT enough in Indianapolis?
The CRT is enough for an Indiana license, and Ascension St. Vincent hires CRTs. Community Health Network asks new hires to hold or earn the CRT or RRT within 12 months, and many hospital roles list registered respiratory therapist in the title, so plan to earn the RRT early.
How long does respiratory therapy school take in Indianapolis?
The Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis associate degree runs seven semesters. The consortium bachelor's degree takes about four years, with two years of prerequisites and two years of professional study at IU Health Methodist.
What shifts do Indianapolis respiratory therapists work?
Hospital respiratory departments run around the clock. Community Hospital North's night line runs 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., and Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North has recruited full-time night therapists with a sign-on bonus.
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