Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois
Certified Respiratory Therapist jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand across hospital systems, long-term acute care, and home health settings at every level from new graduates through senior clinicians. Chicago, Peoria, and Springfield anchor most of the hiring, where large employers like Northwestern Medicine, OSF HealthCare, and Rush University Medical Center maintain substantial respiratory therapy departments. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois include neonatal and pediatric respiratory care, sleep diagnostics, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Initiates, maintains, and discontinues basic and intensive home respiratory therapy equipment and procedures in the administration of prescribed respiratory care to patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Educates patients and caregivers on Respiratory Therapy equipment and procedures, along with follow up for efficacies of therapy. Participates with an on-call after hour rotation.
Highlights & Benefits
- Memorial Childcare
- Mental Health Services
- Growth Opportunities
- Continuing Education
- Local and National Discounts
- Pet Insurance
- Medical, Dental, Vision
Required Experience
Education:
- Graduate of AMA approved School of Respiratory Care.
Licensure/Certification/Registry:
- Certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care or registry eligible.
- Must have an active Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner license.
- Current CPR certification.
- Minimum cleaning and maintenance of R.T. equipment.
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- Prepares and tests R.T. equipment for proper and safe operation and periodically checks R.T. equipment in use and on units for proper operation and routine service. Reports malfunctioning equipment to manager.
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- Follows and enforces safety rules, instruction and procedures of the Respiratory Therapy Department and hospital to contain and minimize the spread of infection.
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- Receives, documents, and executes physician’s orders relating to Respiratory Care Order Set. Interprets and evaluates physician’s orders and charts that pertain to respiratory and identifies possible contraindications to medications, treatments, and related hazard with their use.
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- Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values:
- SAFETY: Prevent Harm – I put safety first in everything I do. I take action to ensure the safety of others.
- COURTESY: Serve Others – I treat others with dignity and respect. I project a professional image and positive attitude.
- QUALITY: Improve Outcomes – I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance. I work with others to achieve superior results.
- EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste – I use time and resources wisely. I prevent defects and delays.
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- Measures and administers prescribed medications to patients, such as oxygen and aerosolized medications. Administers the following procedures or therapies; EzPAP, chest physical therapy, incentive spirometry, TB skin tests, pulse oximetry, and bedside pulmonary function/mechanics, high flow oxygen therapy.
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- Assesses patient’s condition and response to respiratory therapy by checking patients pulse, blood pressure, respiratory frequency, tidal volume, inspiratory pressure, cough, sputum, breath sounds, and other pertinent data that relates to the patient. Must also be alert to adverse reactions of patient during treatment, plus be aware of proper response to emergencies.
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- Recognizes and responds to the signs of cardiopulmonary arrest and/or failure and life threatening arrhythmias during EKG’s. As necessary, assists in performing and or initiating CPR procedures.
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- Modifies therapy to deal with adverse or ineffective patient response or reports changes to shift supervisor.
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- Records procedures, patient response, and medication administration in compliance with departmental documentation requirements. Relays same information.
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- Participates in in-services, continuing education, and other staff development activities.
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- Keeps confidential all patient information received and follows MMC Guest Relations guidelines.
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- Evaluates ABG reports and checks for accuracy of results and reports abnormal reports to proper therapist, nurse, and/or physician.
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- Performs arterial punctures when certified to perform procedure by Medical Director (otherwise procedure is done only under direct supervision of ABG certified individual). Able to run ABG samples on the GEM Premier 4000.
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- Performs nasal and tracheal suctioning of patients of all ages and obtains tracheal secretions for culture.
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- Performs CPR procedures as part of Stat Code Team.
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- Maintains patients on continuous mechanical ventilators and is responsible for providing these patients with respiratory care (monitors patients every 1-3 hours).
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- Under the supervision of registered therapist, performs the following tasks;
- Is primarily responsible for the respiratory stature of patients in ICU and makes appropriate decisions to insure that these patients are receiving the best in respiratory care; recommends or obtains ABG samples, x-rays, O2, and other respiratory care procedures that one feels is necessary for the patient’s welfare.
- Implements weaning procedures from continuous mechanical ventilations and monitors patients during this procedure.
- Alerts therapist, supervisor, RN, and Physician or Medical Director to any changes in the cardiopulmonary status of patients in the ICU or any other critically ill patient of any age.
- Monitors endotracheal cuffs on patients of all ages with artificial airways; assists in airway care as indicated.
- Assists in clinical instruction of RT students.
- Auscultates lungs of patients in ICU and reports findings to proper RN, therapist, or physician.
- Instructs patients, families, and other MMC personnel in the proper care of RT procedures and techniques.
- May assist physician in performing bronchoscopy, certified by medical director. Maintains all supplies, monitors patients, obtains cultures and cytology samples and sterilizes equipment. Participates in conscious sedation procedures and patient monitoring.
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- Perform skin testing (certified by Medical Director)
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- Provides pulmonary services in the Emergency Department. Performs patients assessments and treatment according to the Emergency Department/Respiratory Care protocol.
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- Participates in departmental or multidisciplinary teams related to clinical quality, safety, education, best practices, or process improvements.
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- Follows MMC & Pulmonary Medicine infection control policies.
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- Performs other related duties as assigned.
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- Performs all duties under supervision of Registered Therapist or shift supervisor.
- undefinedThe intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
See All 10 Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsCertified Respiratory Therapist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Certified Respiratory Therapist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in certified respiratory therapist jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois respiratory care practitioner license issued by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
- Certified Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care
- Associate or bachelor's degree from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care accredited program
- Current BLS certification, with ACLS preferred for critical care and ICU positions
- Clinical experience with mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas interpretation, and pulmonary function testing
- Strong written communication skills for accurate patient documentation in electronic health records
Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a certified respiratory therapist in Illinois?
To work as a certified respiratory therapist in Illinois, you must hold an active license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Earning that license requires graduating from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care accredited program and passing the Certified Respiratory Therapist exam administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Most Illinois employers also expect current BLS certification before your start date.
How much do certified respiratory therapists make in Illinois?
Certified respiratory therapists in Illinois earn a median of about $84,090 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $64,480 for the lowest 10% to over $100,100 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire certified respiratory therapists in Illinois?
Employers hiring certified respiratory therapists in Illinois right now include Ascension, Memorial Health, and Carle Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of large academic medical centers and regional health systems means openings appear across both major metros and smaller downstate communities throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most certified respiratory therapist jobs?
Chicago, Shiloh, and Lincoln have the most certified respiratory therapist openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the bulk of demand through its network of major academic medical centers and specialty hospitals, while Peoria and Springfield support steady volume through large regional systems like OSF HealthCare and HSHS Medical Group that serve surrounding rural communities.
How can I get hired as a certified respiratory therapist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a new-graduate or associate respiratory therapist role at a large Illinois health system that runs structured clinical residencies. Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and OSF HealthCare have historically offered new-grad programs and rotational tracks for candidates who hold a current Illinois license and Certified Respiratory Therapist credential but lack post-graduation experience. Candidates coming from adjacent roles such as respiratory therapy assistant or pulmonary function technician positions will find those backgrounds transfer well and help shorten the hiring timeline.
Where can I find and apply to certified respiratory therapist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to certified respiratory therapist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, and apply directly to each one without needing to go elsewhere.
See All 10 Certified Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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