Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in California
Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs in California are concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where major health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center maintain large respiratory care departments across acute and critical care settings. Demand is strongest in neonatal and pediatric respiratory therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and sleep disorder diagnostics, reflecting California's dense network of academic medical centers and specialty hospitals. The state supports entry-level staff therapists through senior and lead positions, with consistent openings at every experience level. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 114+ Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs
Overview
Embark on a rewarding career with Desert Regional Medical Center hospital. If you are a compassionate healthcare professional eager to contribute to patient care, this is your opportunity where your skills make a difference every day. Join us in delivering exceptional healthcare with a personal touch.
At Desert Regional Medical Center, we understand that our greatest asset is our dedicated team of professionals. That’s why we offer more than a job – we provide a comprehensive benefit package that prioritizes your health, professional development, and work-life balance. The available plans and programs include:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off
- Career development and continuing education opportunities
- Health savings accounts, healthcare & dependent flexible spending accounts
- Employee Assistance program, Employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits include pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long term care, elder & childcare, auto & home insurance
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location and is determined by employment status
Job Summary
Hours: 1900-0730
Job Type: Per Diem
Shift: Nights
The respiratory care practitioner (RCP) shall provide respiratory care to patients, and assist with functions necessary to support departmental functions. In addition, the RCP performs respiratory therapy in all non-critical areas, as well as critical care areas under minimal supervision. He/she shall complete established competencies for the position within the designated periods, and retain all applicable licensures and certifications necessary to provide respiratory care.
The Advanced Clinical Respiratory Care Practitioner provides complex patient care utilizing the most advanced concepts of Respiratory Therapy and patient focused care. The Advanced Clinical Respiratory Care Practitioner is actively involved with department protocols. He/she is a strong team member who acts as a resource as well as being involved with orientation and training of staff in the adult and pediatric care areas. Demographic information, limited Patient Health Information related to job function.
Pulmonary Services is a full service 24-hour department performing both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. A Medical Director oversees the standard of care provided.
Responsibilities
- Performs direct and indirect respiratory care services; including but not limited to: the administration of pharmacological agents, pulmonary diagnostics (e.g. point of care testing), clinical documentation and care planning, as well as therapeutic treatments related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician or surgeon.
- Practices in accordance with regulatory standards and maintains compliance with facility policies and procedures.
- Establishes and maintains professional relationships with colleagues, physicians, and other care providers.
- Acts as a resource/consultant for other respiratory care practitioners and affiliated health care practitioners on pulmonary aspects of patient care interventions.
- Responds to emergency situations and facility CODEs.
- Maintains competencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory statues.
- Reports unusual patient conditions/reactions when identified to an immediate supervisor, including completion of a facility electronic occurrence report as appropriate.
- Prepares and maintains electronic documentation of all work/services rendered, providing written/verbal hand-off communication to oncoming staff.
- Helps perform quality control and maintenance on respiratory care equipment, including blood gas analyzers when appropriate.
- Helps maintain a safe working environment, including utilizing facility resources efficiently and effectively.
- Accurately identifies and addresses patient population specific needs.
- Participates in performance improvement activities, including department and facility-based quality measures.
- Assists with orientation, education, and training of department staff as appropriate
Qualifications
Required:
- Current Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in State of California
- Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician with 3 years’ experience or graduate of an AMA 2-4 year Respiratory Therapist program; or Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) w/ credentials awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care on or after July 01, 2002.
- Licensure must be maintained and current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association BLS Certification (maintain current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association ACLS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- Current American Heart Association PALS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- If in NICU, three (3) years of acute care experience, with completion with of Desert Regional Medical Center’s intubation certification program, BLS, NRP, within 90 days of hire (maintain current at all times).
- If Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner (ADV) – must complete criteria outlined in the facility’s Clinical Ladder policy, and provide all documentation for programmatic review and acceptance annually (if ineligible during any one cycle, the candidate will be returned to standard clinical RCP/RRT status).
Preferred:
- Two (2) to three (3) years acute care experience.
- Graduate of a 2-4 year AMA therapist program, or equivalent.
- Membership of a professional organization (i.e. ARRC, NBRC, etc).
#LI-DH1
Organization Description
Desert Care Network serves the healthcare needs of the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin regions in Southern California with three hospitals Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. The hospital network provides advanced care with services such as comprehensive stroke care, a cancer center, a Level 1 Trauma Center and the only Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Coachella Valley. Desert Care Network is committed to healthcare equality. Join our team!
Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.
Tenet participates in the E-Verify program. Follow the link below for additional information.
E-Verify: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify
The employment practices of Tenet Healthcare and its companies comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Performs direct and indirect respiratory care services; including but not limited to: the administration of pharmacological agents, pulmonary diagnostics (e.g. point of care testing), clinical documentation and care planning, as well as therapeutic treatments related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician or surgeon.
- Practices in accordance with regulatory standards and maintains compliance with facility policies and procedures.
- Establishes and maintains professional relationships with colleagues, physicians, and other care providers.
- Acts as a resource/consultant for other respiratory care practitioners and affiliated health care practitioners on pulmonary aspects of patient care interventions.
- Responds to emergency situations and facility CODEs.
- Maintains competencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory statues.
- Reports unusual patient conditions/reactions when identified to an immediate supervisor, including completion of a facility electronic occurrence report as appropriate.
- Prepares and maintains electronic documentation of all work/services rendered, providing written/verbal hand-off communication to oncoming staff.
- Helps perform quality control and maintenance on respiratory care equipment, including blood gas analyzers when appropriate.
- Helps maintain a safe working environment, including utilizing facility resources efficiently and effectively.
- Accurately identifies and addresses patient population specific needs.
- Participates in performance improvement activities, including department and facility-based quality measures.
- Assists with orientation, education, and training of department staff as appropriate
Required:
- Current Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in State of California
- Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician with 3 years’ experience or graduate of an AMA 2-4 year Respiratory Therapist program; or Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) w/ credentials awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care on or after July 01, 2002.
- Licensure must be maintained and current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association BLS Certification (maintain current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association ACLS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- Current American Heart Association PALS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- If in NICU, three (3) years of acute care experience, with completion with of Desert Regional Medical Center’s intubation certification program, BLS, NRP, within 90 days of hire (maintain current at all times).
- If Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner (ADV) – must complete criteria outlined in the facility’s Clinical Ladder policy, and provide all documentation for programmatic review and acceptance annually (if ineligible during any one cycle, the candidate will be returned to standard clinical RCP/RRT status).
Preferred:
- Two (2) to three (3) years acute care experience.
- Graduate of a 2-4 year AMA therapist program, or equivalent.
- Membership of a professional organization (i.e. ARRC, NBRC, etc).
#LI-DH1
Overview
Embark on a rewarding career with Desert Regional Medical Center hospital. If you are a compassionate healthcare professional eager to contribute to patient care, this is your opportunity where your skills make a difference every day. Join us in delivering exceptional healthcare with a personal touch.
At Desert Regional Medical Center, we understand that our greatest asset is our dedicated team of professionals. That’s why we offer more than a job – we provide a comprehensive benefit package that prioritizes your health, professional development, and work-life balance. The available plans and programs include:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off
- Career development and continuing education opportunities
- Health savings accounts, healthcare & dependent flexible spending accounts
- Employee Assistance program, Employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits include pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long term care, elder & childcare, auto & home insurance
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location and is determined by employment status
Job Summary
Hours: 1900-0730
Job Type: Per Diem
Shift: Nights
The respiratory care practitioner (RCP) shall provide respiratory care to patients, and assist with functions necessary to support departmental functions. In addition, the RCP performs respiratory therapy in all non-critical areas, as well as critical care areas under minimal supervision. He/she shall complete established competencies for the position within the designated periods, and retain all applicable licensures and certifications necessary to provide respiratory care.
The Advanced Clinical Respiratory Care Practitioner provides complex patient care utilizing the most advanced concepts of Respiratory Therapy and patient focused care. The Advanced Clinical Respiratory Care Practitioner is actively involved with department protocols. He/she is a strong team member who acts as a resource as well as being involved with orientation and training of staff in the adult and pediatric care areas. Demographic information, limited Patient Health Information related to job function.
Pulmonary Services is a full service 24-hour department performing both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. A Medical Director oversees the standard of care provided.
Responsibilities
- Performs direct and indirect respiratory care services; including but not limited to: the administration of pharmacological agents, pulmonary diagnostics (e.g. point of care testing), clinical documentation and care planning, as well as therapeutic treatments related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician or surgeon.
- Practices in accordance with regulatory standards and maintains compliance with facility policies and procedures.
- Establishes and maintains professional relationships with colleagues, physicians, and other care providers.
- Acts as a resource/consultant for other respiratory care practitioners and affiliated health care practitioners on pulmonary aspects of patient care interventions.
- Responds to emergency situations and facility CODEs.
- Maintains competencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory statues.
- Reports unusual patient conditions/reactions when identified to an immediate supervisor, including completion of a facility electronic occurrence report as appropriate.
- Prepares and maintains electronic documentation of all work/services rendered, providing written/verbal hand-off communication to oncoming staff.
- Helps perform quality control and maintenance on respiratory care equipment, including blood gas analyzers when appropriate.
- Helps maintain a safe working environment, including utilizing facility resources efficiently and effectively.
- Accurately identifies and addresses patient population specific needs.
- Participates in performance improvement activities, including department and facility-based quality measures.
- Assists with orientation, education, and training of department staff as appropriate
Qualifications
Required:
- Current Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in State of California
- Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician with 3 years’ experience or graduate of an AMA 2-4 year Respiratory Therapist program; or Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) w/ credentials awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care on or after July 01, 2002.
- Licensure must be maintained and current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association BLS Certification (maintain current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association ACLS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- Current American Heart Association PALS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- If in NICU, three (3) years of acute care experience, with completion with of Desert Regional Medical Center’s intubation certification program, BLS, NRP, within 90 days of hire (maintain current at all times).
- If Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner (ADV) – must complete criteria outlined in the facility’s Clinical Ladder policy, and provide all documentation for programmatic review and acceptance annually (if ineligible during any one cycle, the candidate will be returned to standard clinical RCP/RRT status).
Preferred:
- Two (2) to three (3) years acute care experience.
- Graduate of a 2-4 year AMA therapist program, or equivalent.
- Membership of a professional organization (i.e. ARRC, NBRC, etc).
#LI-DH1
Organization Description
Desert Care Network serves the healthcare needs of the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin regions in Southern California with three hospitals Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. The hospital network provides advanced care with services such as comprehensive stroke care, a cancer center, a Level 1 Trauma Center and the only Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Coachella Valley. Desert Care Network is committed to healthcare equality. Join our team!
Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.
Tenet participates in the E-Verify program. Follow the link below for additional information.
E-Verify: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify
The employment practices of Tenet Healthcare and its companies comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Performs direct and indirect respiratory care services; including but not limited to: the administration of pharmacological agents, pulmonary diagnostics (e.g. point of care testing), clinical documentation and care planning, as well as therapeutic treatments related to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative or diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician or surgeon.
- Practices in accordance with regulatory standards and maintains compliance with facility policies and procedures.
- Establishes and maintains professional relationships with colleagues, physicians, and other care providers.
- Acts as a resource/consultant for other respiratory care practitioners and affiliated health care practitioners on pulmonary aspects of patient care interventions.
- Responds to emergency situations and facility CODEs.
- Maintains competencies to ensure compliance with all regulatory statues.
- Reports unusual patient conditions/reactions when identified to an immediate supervisor, including completion of a facility electronic occurrence report as appropriate.
- Prepares and maintains electronic documentation of all work/services rendered, providing written/verbal hand-off communication to oncoming staff.
- Helps perform quality control and maintenance on respiratory care equipment, including blood gas analyzers when appropriate.
- Helps maintain a safe working environment, including utilizing facility resources efficiently and effectively.
- Accurately identifies and addresses patient population specific needs.
- Participates in performance improvement activities, including department and facility-based quality measures.
- Assists with orientation, education, and training of department staff as appropriate
Required:
- Current Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in State of California
- Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician with 3 years’ experience or graduate of an AMA 2-4 year Respiratory Therapist program; or Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) w/ credentials awarded by the National Board for Respiratory Care on or after July 01, 2002.
- Licensure must be maintained and current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association BLS Certification (maintain current at all times).
- Current American Heart Association ACLS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- Current American Heart Association PALS Certification (maintain current at all times); excludes NICU.
- If in NICU, three (3) years of acute care experience, with completion with of Desert Regional Medical Center’s intubation certification program, BLS, NRP, within 90 days of hire (maintain current at all times).
- If Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioner (ADV) – must complete criteria outlined in the facility’s Clinical Ladder policy, and provide all documentation for programmatic review and acceptance annually (if ineligible during any one cycle, the candidate will be returned to standard clinical RCP/RRT status).
Preferred:
- Two (2) to three (3) years acute care experience.
- Graduate of a 2-4 year AMA therapist program, or equivalent.
- Membership of a professional organization (i.e. ARRC, NBRC, etc).
#LI-DH1
See All 114+ Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in California
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Find JobsRegistered Respiratory Therapist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Respiratory Therapist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Technology & Software
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered respiratory therapist jobs across California.
- Active California Respiratory Care Practitioner license issued by the California Respiratory Care Board
- Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care
- Minimum associate degree in respiratory therapy from a COARC-accredited program
- Current Basic Life Support certification required at time of hire
- Experience with mechanical ventilation and arterial blood gas interpretation
- Familiarity with electronic health record systems used in acute care settings
Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered respiratory therapist in California?
You become a registered respiratory therapist in California by completing an accredited respiratory therapy program, passing the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple-Choice and Clinical Simulation exams to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, then applying for a Respiratory Care Practitioner license through the California Respiratory Care Board. California requires this state license to practice, and most employers verify it before extending an offer.
How much do registered respiratory therapists make in California?
Registered respiratory therapists in California earn a median of about $104,820 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,010 for the lowest 10% to over $145,510 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire registered respiratory therapists in California?
Employers hiring registered respiratory therapists in California right now include Kindred Hospitals, AdaptHealth, and Lincare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large integrated health systems and academic medical centers drive the bulk of consistent postings across the state.
Which California cities have the most registered respiratory therapist jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Stockton consistently post the most registered respiratory therapist openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its sheer density of hospitals, specialty centers, and academic medical campuses, while San Francisco and San Diego draw strong demand from university health systems and research hospitals anchored in those metros.
Are there remote registered respiratory therapist jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 8% of registered respiratory therapist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most respiratory care work. The positions most likely to offer remote flexibility involve telehealth respiratory monitoring, case management, or clinical education roles rather than direct patient care.
How can I get hired as a registered respiratory therapist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new graduate respiratory therapist postings at California's large health systems, which regularly post openings designed for candidates who hold their RRT credential but have limited clinical hours beyond program requirements. Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UC Health campuses across the state have onboarded new graduates into structured orientation programs that extend clinical training on the job. Candidates who also hold a Neonatal and Pediatric Specialty credential or have completed a clinical rotation in a Level III NICU gain a competitive edge for California's high-volume pediatric units.
Where can I find and apply to registered respiratory therapist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to registered respiratory therapist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level, location preference, and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 114+ Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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