JOB REPORT / 29-1126 · 22 TASKS

Respiratory Therapists.

Can AI do the work of Respiratory Therapists?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy…
Relay blood analysis results to a physician
Determine requirements for treatment

Your free lesson plan builds the skills that keep you ahead of AI.

A free set of short lessons, about 20 minutes each, at your own pace. No payment, no experience needed.

TURN THIS INTO SKILLS YOU CAN PROVE Early access

Earn a certificate in your job

A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Respiratory Therapists work. It covers the 11 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

11 of 22 tasks reviewed

This job has 22 core tasks. We went through 11 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Respiratory Therapists actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
AI DOES
Auto-fills standard chart fields, formats therapy notes, and flags missing information
YOU DO
Verify clinical details and take legal responsibility for every entry
TASK 02
Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
AI DOES
Flags critical values, formats lab results, and drafts summary reports
YOU DO
Apply clinical judgment and speak directly with the physician about the patient's full picture
TASK 03
Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
AI DOES
Pulls up treatment protocols, flags dosage ranges, and summarizes clinical guidelines
YOU DO
Assess the living patient and apply hands-on clinical judgment
TASK 04
Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
AI DOES
Analyzes test data, flags abnormal results, and suggests pattern matches from large datasets
YOU DO
Perform hands-on tests, operate equipment, and read patient cues in real time
TASK 05
Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
AI DOES
Flags abnormal blood gas values, surfaces relevant patient history, and suggests possible interpretations
YOU DO
Draw the blood sample, physically assess the patient, and make the clinical call
TASK 06
Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
AI DOES
Flags abnormal heart rhythms and highlights patterns in ECG data for review
YOU DO
Apply the device, observe the patient directly, and use clinical judgment on findings
TASK 07
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
AI DOES
Generates training scripts, step-by-step procedure guides, quizzes, and visual aid content for instructors to use
YOU DO
Show the actual hands-on technique in person and read how trainees are responding in real time
TASK 08
Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
AI DOES
Flags trends in digital vital sign data and suggests when values fall outside normal ranges
YOU DO
Stay at the bedside, interpret the full clinical picture, and decide when to call the physician
TASK 09
Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
AI DOES
Generates training materials, quizzes, and explanations of respiratory concepts
YOU DO
Watch, coach, and correct students in real clinical moments
TASK 10SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
AI DOES
Generates clear scripts and visual aids
YOU DO
Read emotions and build trust
About this analysis
12% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 11SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
AI DOES
Creates educational materials and practice guides
YOU DO
Adapt teaching to each patient's needs
About this analysis
12% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.

There are 11 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

Try a free lesson

AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Respiratory Therapists
SOC code: 29-1126
Tasks reviewed: 11 of 22

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $82,280 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $86,220 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 139,790
Employed in Colorado: 2,110
Job outlook: +12.1% by 2034 · ~8,800 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.

Relay blood analysis results to a physician.

Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.

Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.

Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.

Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.

Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.

Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.

Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.

Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.

Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.