Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Kentucky

Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in Louisville, Lexington, and the Bowling Green area, where major health systems maintain consistent demand for cardiopulmonary care, neonatal and pediatric respiratory support, and sleep disorder management. Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, and UK HealthCare are among the most established employers in the state, recruiting at every level from entry-level CRT to seasoned RRT and travel staff. Critical care and neonatal respiratory therapy are among the most actively recruited specialties statewide. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles63
Top employerBaptist Health System KY & IN
Top cityLouisville, KY
Cities hiring35
Work type80% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 4 of 63+ Respiratory Therapist jobs

Centerpoint Health
Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Acute
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Centerpoint Health
Added 1d ago
Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Acute
Centerpoint Health
Winchester, Kentucky
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
NRP Certification

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A
Respiratory Therapist
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A
Added 2d ago
Respiratory Therapist
Apparo Home Medical
La Grange, Kentucky
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$700 - $1,000/yr
On-Site

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American Traveler
Travel Respiratory Therapist
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American Traveler
Added 4d ago
Travel Respiratory Therapist
American Traveler
Lexington, Kentucky
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
NRP Certification
501-1,000

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Baptist Health System KY & IN
Respiratory Therapist - PRN
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Baptist Health System KY & IN
Added 5d ago
Respiratory Therapist - PRN
Baptist Health System KY & IN
Richmond, Kentucky
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Project Management
BLS Certification
10,000+

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Respiratory Therapist Jobs by City in Kentucky

Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Louisville
11 jobs
Lexington
6 jobs
Paducah
5 jobs
Lagrange
3 jobs
Bowling Green
3 jobs
Murray
2 jobs
Frankfort
2 jobs
Owensboro
2 jobs
Winchester
2 jobs

Respiratory Therapist Job Market in Kentucky

A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Baptist Health System KY & IN
Baptist Health System KY & IN9 open roles
Kindred Hospitals
Kindred Hospitals4 open roles
Centerpoint Health
Centerpoint Health4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Kentucky Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in respiratory therapist jobs across Kentucky.

  • Active Certified Respiratory Therapist or Registered Respiratory Therapist license from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
  • Graduate of a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program at the associate or bachelor level
  • Current Basic Life Support certification required for all clinical settings in Kentucky
  • ACLS or PALS certification preferred for ICU, emergency, and neonatal respiratory positions
  • Demonstrated experience with mechanical ventilation and arterial blood gas analysis
  • Ability to work rotating shifts including nights and weekends in acute care hospital environments

Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a respiratory therapist in Kentucky?

You must hold an active license issued by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to work as a respiratory therapist in the state. The path starts with completing a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program, which leads to either the Certified Respiratory Therapist or Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care. You then apply for a Kentucky license using those credentials. Community colleges and university programs across the state offer accredited pathways.

How much do respiratory therapists make in Kentucky?

Respiratory therapists in Kentucky earn a median of about $72,750 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,330 for the lowest 10% to over $92,540 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire respiratory therapists in Kentucky?

Kentucky respiratory therapist roles are posted by Baptist Health System KY & IN, Kindred Hospitals, and Centerpoint Health and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Large integrated health systems headquartered in Louisville and Lexington account for the largest share of permanent and per-diem openings statewide.

Which Kentucky cities have the most respiratory therapist jobs?

Louisville, Lexington, and Paducah have the most respiratory therapist openings in Kentucky right now. Louisville leads because it is home to several major hospital systems and the state's largest trauma centers, while Lexington's openings are driven largely by UK HealthCare and the surrounding academic medical complex, and smaller metros benefit from regional hospital expansions serving rural catchment areas.

Are there remote respiratory therapist jobs in Kentucky?

Yes, but they're rare. Respiratory therapy is a hands-on clinical role, so the vast majority of positions require on-site presence in a hospital, long-term care facility, or outpatient clinic. About 20% of respiratory therapist openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions are almost exclusively in telehealth pulmonary monitoring or case management, rather than direct bedside care.

How can I get hired as a respiratory therapist in Kentucky with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate respiratory therapist roles posted by large Kentucky health systems, which regularly recruit CoARC graduates before or just after they sit for the NBRC exam. Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health have historically offered structured new-grad orientation programs in their acute care units. Candidates who have worked as a respiratory therapy aide, pulmonary function technologist, or sleep study technician hold a meaningful advantage, and securing your Kentucky license promptly after passing the CRT exam is the single most important step.

Where can I find and apply to respiratory therapist jobs in Kentucky?

You can find and apply to respiratory therapist jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current Kentucky openings. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your credentials and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 63 Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Kentucky

Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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