Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois
Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with demand concentrated in hospital systems, critical care units, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs at every level from new graduate through senior clinician. Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford are the state's primary hiring centers, with major health systems like Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health, and OSF HealthCare among the most established employers. Neonatal respiratory care, sleep disorder programs, and mechanical ventilation management are the specialties drawing the most sustained interest from Illinois hiring teams. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Pay Range:
$32.58 - $48.87A successful candidate's actual pay rate will be based on several factors including relevant experience, skills, training, certifications and education.
Position Specifics
- Department: Respiratory
- Core Function; Rehab/Therapy/Sleep
- Schedule: PRN
- Facility: St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Location: Highland, IL
- Compensation that aligns with your experience
Education Qualifications
- Diploma or an Associate's degree in respiratory therapy from an Accredited Respiratory Care Education Program is required.
- Bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from an Accredited Respiratory Care Education Program is preferred.
Experience Qualifications
- 3 years of professional respiratory care experience is required.
Certifications, Licenses and Registrations
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is required.
- Licensed as Respiratory Care Practitioner in the state of practice is required.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) is required.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) are required based on patient population and assigned clinical areas.
- Specialty credential through NBRC is preferred (Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS), Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS), Sleep Disorders Specialist (SDS), Asthma Educator Specialist (AE-C), Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT)). Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) through the BRPT may also be accepted as an alternative specialty credential.
Job Description
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
0Throughout communities in Illinois and Wisconsin, 13 hospitals, numerous community-based health centers and clinics, our 13,000+ colleagues have built a culture based on our solid core values of respect, care, competence, and joy. These are the ideals we believe in, work by, and live each day.
Built upon more than 145 years of service to the communities we serve, we now look to the future and our place in it as a healthcare system that strives to continually improve processes, procedures, and outcomes with the latest and most advanced technologies and treatments.
Regardless of how far our passion for excellence carries us, our focus will always remain on the most important person in our entire organization: The patient.
Benefits: HSHS provides a benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our colleagues including their physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, and work health. Colleagues budgeted to work at least 32 hours per pay period are eligible for HSHS benefits.
- Comprehensive and affordable health coverage includes medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time colleagues.
- Paid Time Off (PTO) combines vacation, sick, and personal days into one balance to allow you the flexibility to use your time off as you need.
-
Retirement benefits including HSHS
contributions. - Education Assistance benefits include up to $5,250 of educational assistance each calendar year and tuition discounts to select colleges with no waiting period.
- Adoption Assistance provides financial support up to $7,500 for colleagues growing their families through adoption to reimburse application and legal fees, transportation, and more!
- Other benefits include: Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, ID theft coverage, colleague rewards and recognition program, discount program, and more!
Benefits
HSHS and affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
HSHS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.
Notice Regarding Potential Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process
Hospital Sisters may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence or machine-learning technologies, to assist with certain administrative aspects of the recruitment process. These tools may help our recruiting team organize applications, search for resumes, identify qualifications reflected in application materials, and facilitate communications or scheduling with applicants.
Information used by these tools may include materials you provide during the application process, such as your resume, work history, education, qualifications, and responses to application questions.
These tools are used only to support our recruiting process. Hiring decisions are made by HSHS personnel, and automated tools do not make employment decisions on behalf of HSHS.
Applicants who have questions about this notice or who require a reasonable accommodation or alternative evaluation method may contact HSHS Human Resources at Contact@hshs.org
See All 133+ Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsRegistered Respiratory Therapist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Respiratory Therapist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Advocate Aurora Health18

- Endeavor Health8

- Elevate Care6

- Loyola Medicine5

- Memorial Health5

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered respiratory therapist jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care
- Associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy from a CAAHEP-accredited program
- Current BLS certification with ACLS preferred for critical care and acute settings
- Clinical experience with mechanical ventilators, arterial blood gas interpretation, and airway management
- Strong documentation skills with experience in electronic health record systems used in Illinois hospitals
Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered respiratory therapist in Illinois?
To become a registered respiratory therapist in Illinois, you must complete an accredited respiratory therapy program, pass the Registered Respiratory Therapist exam administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, and then obtain a Respiratory Care Practitioner license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Illinois requires this state license before you can practice legally. Most hospital employers in Illinois also require current BLS certification before your start date.
How much do registered respiratory therapists make in Illinois?
Registered 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 registered respiratory therapists in Illinois?
Employers hiring registered respiratory therapists in Illinois right now include Advocate Aurora Health, Endeavor Health, and Elevate Care, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's large integrated health systems tend to hire across multiple campuses, so a single employer may have openings in several metro areas simultaneously.
Which Illinois cities have the most registered respiratory therapist jobs?
Chicago, Maywood, and Oak Lawn have the most registered respiratory therapist openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates the count due to the concentration of academic medical centers, Level I trauma facilities, and specialty hospitals on the North Shore and in the suburbs, while Peoria and Rockford reflect the large regional health systems, particularly OSF HealthCare and Mercyhealth, that anchor those markets.
Are there remote registered respiratory therapist jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Respiratory therapy is a hands-on clinical role requiring direct patient contact, so the vast majority of positions are on-site. About 0% of registered respiratory therapist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those are almost exclusively in areas like pulmonary education, telehealth triage support, or clinical documentation review rather than direct patient care.
How can I get hired as a registered respiratory therapist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate respiratory therapy positions at large Illinois health systems that run structured residency or clinical orientation programs, such as those offered through Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health, and UChicago Medicine. These programs provide supervised rotations across general floor, ICU, and emergency settings. Candidates who complete their Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner license promptly after graduation and hold current BLS certification are prioritized. Lateral entry from respiratory therapy tech or pulmonary function tech roles at Illinois hospitals also provides a common bridge into registered therapist positions.
Where can I find and apply to registered respiratory therapist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to registered respiratory therapist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your experience and credentials and apply directly to the employer without any intermediary steps.
See All 133+ Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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