Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Iowa
Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs in Iowa are concentrated in hospital systems, long-term acute care, and pulmonary rehabilitation, with consistent demand from entry-level staff positions through senior and lead therapist roles. The busiest hiring markets are Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where employers like UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics maintain ongoing respiratory therapy departments. Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care, critical care ventilator management, and sleep diagnostics are the most in-demand specialties across the state right now. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 69+ Registered Respiratory Therapist jobs
Assignment Overview
- Shift: Nights, 3x12hrs
- Hours: 36 hrs/wk
- Start Date: Nov 16, 2026
- Length: 13 weeks
- Openings: 1
Description
American Traveler is seeking a Respiratory Therapist (CRT/RRT) for a night shift acute care position requiring neonatal and pediatric experience in a regional health center.
Details
- Night shift position in the Respiratory Therapy department on the 3rd floor
- Trauma Level VI facility with 217 beds
- Patient population includes geriatric, adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients
- Uses V-60, VOCSN, Hamilton, Vapotherm, and Airvo2 equipment
- Meditech EHR system
- Shift hours 6:30 PM to 7:00 AM
- Every other weekend required
Requirements
- CRT or RRT certification through NBRC required
- BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP certifications required
- Associate Degree in Respiratory Care required
- 1-2+ years of experience required
- Experience with neonatal and pediatric patients required
- Experience attending high-risk deliveries required
- Experience implementing and managing invasive and non-invasive equipment required
- Strong patient assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills required
- Iowa state license required if applicable
- Social Security number and date of birth required for consideration
Additional Information
- Responsibilities include patient assessment and implementing treatments and therapies
- Must be comfortable attending high-risk deliveries
- Requires management of both invasive and non-invasive respiratory equipment
- Candidates must live 60 miles or greater from the facility to be eligible for travel pay rate
- Candidates cannot have worked as permanent staff at any LifePoint facility within the last 12 months
- Candidates cannot be employed elsewhere full time
Assignment Overview
- Shift: Nights, 3x12hrs
- Hours: 36 hrs/wk
- Start Date: Nov 16, 2026
- Length: 13 weeks
- Openings: 1
Description
American Traveler is seeking a Respiratory Therapist (CRT/RRT) for a night shift acute care position requiring neonatal and pediatric experience in a regional health center.
Details
- Night shift position in the Respiratory Therapy department on the 3rd floor
- Trauma Level VI facility with 217 beds
- Patient population includes geriatric, adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients
- Uses V-60, VOCSN, Hamilton, Vapotherm, and Airvo2 equipment
- Meditech EHR system
- Shift hours 6:30 PM to 7:00 AM
- Every other weekend required
Requirements
- CRT or RRT certification through NBRC required
- BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP certifications required
- Associate Degree in Respiratory Care required
- 1-2+ years of experience required
- Experience with neonatal and pediatric patients required
- Experience attending high-risk deliveries required
- Experience implementing and managing invasive and non-invasive equipment required
- Strong patient assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills required
- Iowa state license required if applicable
- Social Security number and date of birth required for consideration
Additional Information
- Responsibilities include patient assessment and implementing treatments and therapies
- Must be comfortable attending high-risk deliveries
- Requires management of both invasive and non-invasive respiratory equipment
- Candidates must live 60 miles or greater from the facility to be eligible for travel pay rate
- Candidates cannot have worked as permanent staff at any LifePoint facility within the last 12 months
- Candidates cannot be employed elsewhere full time
See All 69 Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Iowa
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Find JobsRegistered Respiratory Therapist Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Respiratory Therapist Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- MercyOne14
- UnityPoint Health10
- FirstChoice6F
- American Traveler6
- The University of Iowa6
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered respiratory therapist jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa respiratory care practitioner license issued by the Iowa Board of Respiratory Care
- Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care
- Associate or bachelor's degree in respiratory care from an accredited program
- Current Basic Life Support certification from an accredited provider
- Experience with mechanical ventilation, arterial blood gas interpretation, and pulmonary function testing
- Strong communication skills for collaborating with physicians, nurses, and patients in acute care settings
Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered respiratory therapist in Iowa?
You must hold an active Iowa Respiratory Care Practitioner license issued by the Iowa Board of Respiratory Care Examiners, which requires completing an accredited respiratory therapy program and passing the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple-Choice Exam to earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist credential, followed by the Registry exam to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential. Most Iowa hospital employers expect both the Iowa license and the full RRT credential before hire.
How much do registered respiratory therapists make in Iowa?
Registered respiratory therapists in Iowa earn a median of about $74,760 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,860 for the lowest 10% to over $86,510 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire registered respiratory therapists in Iowa?
Iowa registered respiratory therapist roles are posted by MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, and FirstChoice and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's largest hiring volume comes from integrated health systems anchored in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where hospital campuses run respiratory departments across multiple facilities.
Which Iowa cities have the most registered respiratory therapist jobs?
Davenport, Mason City, and Iowa City have the most registered respiratory therapist openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the largest share of postings as the state's most populous metro and home to major health systems with multiple hospital campuses, while Iowa City's volume reflects the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, a major academic medical center that sustains consistent respiratory therapy demand year-round.
Are there remote registered respiratory therapist jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of registered respiratory therapist openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, because the vast majority of respiratory therapy work requires hands-on patient care in hospitals, clinics, or long-term acute care settings. The narrow exceptions tend to be telehealth respiratory assessment roles, care coordination positions, or clinical education and training roles that don't require direct bedside contact.
How can I get hired as a registered respiratory therapist in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate position at a large Iowa hospital system, where UnityPoint Health and MercyOne periodically run new-grad respiratory therapy cohorts designed for candidates who have completed an accredited program and hold or are eligible for their Iowa license. Candidates without hospital experience often enter through long-term acute care or home health respiratory roles, which carry lighter acuity requirements, then transition to acute care. Completing clinical rotations at Iowa institutions and earning the full RRT credential before applying gives new graduates a clear competitive edge.
Where can I find and apply to registered respiratory therapist jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to registered respiratory therapist jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your credentials and preferred location, and apply directly to whichever positions fit your background.
See All 69 Registered Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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