Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Tulsa, OK

Respiratory therapists in Tulsa staff the ICUs, NICUs and emergency departments of the Utica Avenue and Yale Avenue hospitals, and the metro median runs near $38.60 an hour. Here are the current openings, then who hires, what it pays and how to get licensed in Oklahoma.

Current respiratory therapist Openings in Tulsa, OK

Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.

Respiratory Therapist Work in Tulsa

Most respiratory care jobs in Tulsa sit inside the three big hospital systems. Saint Francis hires therapists for Saint Francis Hospital South on East 91st Street and for neonatal and pediatric ICU teams at its Yale Campus, home of Saint Francis Children's Hospital. On South Utica in midtown, Hillcrest Medical Center and Ascension St. John Medical Center both hire staff therapists, with Hillcrest posting NICU roles and Ascension running night and float positions. West of downtown on West 9th Street, Select Specialty Hospital-Tulsa Midtown adds 12-hour day shifts.

The Tulsa metro had about 540 respiratory therapists in the May 2025 federal wage survey. Night and weekend coverage is the pressure point, which is why recent Tulsa postings have carried night differentials of $8 an hour and sign-on bonuses of up to $15,000.

Top Tulsa Employers for Respiratory Therapists

These Tulsa hospitals hire respiratory therapists for adult, pediatric and neonatal care:

• Saint Francis Health System - the Tulsa-based system hires CRTs and RRTs for its Yale Campus, South Campus and neonatal respiratory care teams, with a clinical ladder.
• Hillcrest Medical Center - the 656-bed Utica Avenue hospital, home of the Alexander Burn Center, hires RRTs and gives new graduates six months to earn the RRT, and Hillcrest Hospital South hires part-time therapists.
• Ascension St. John Medical Center - the midtown hospital hires staff and float-pool therapists, including night shifts with an $8 an hour differential.
• Select Specialty Hospital-Tulsa Midtown - the specialty hospital on West 9th Street hires full-time and per diem therapists for 12-hour day shifts.

Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Tulsa

• Entry level: about $26 to $30 an hour for new graduates with a CRT or RRT.
• Experienced: roughly $31 to $38 an hour, up to the Tulsa median.
• Senior and specialty: about $38 an hour and up for NICU, critical care and lead therapists, before night differentials.

These are estimates built from the May 2025 federal wage survey for the Tulsa metro and recent local postings, including a Saint Francis neonatal posting at $27 an hour and up for therapists with under six months of experience. The RRT credential, critical care and NICU experience, ACLS and PALS, and night or weekend shifts move pay the most. Ascension St. John has advertised an $8 an hour night differential and sign-on bonuses of up to $15,000.

How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Tulsa

Respiratory therapists need a state license in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision licenses respiratory care practitioners, advised by its Respiratory Care Practitioners Committee, and renewal takes 12 continuing education credits every two years. Tulsa hospitals also require a National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credential, the CRT or the RRT, and most accept a provisional license or temporary letter to practice while your license is issued. Locally, Tulsa Community College offers a Respiratory Care AAS at its Metro Campus at 909 S Boston downtown, a two-year, five-term day program accredited by CoARC that prepares graduates for the NBRC exams.

What the Job Involves

Respiratory therapists assess breathing, run and adjust mechanical ventilators, give breathing treatments and medications, draw and analyze arterial blood gases, and manage airways during emergencies. Daily work includes ventilator checks, responding to rapid responses and codes, attending high-risk deliveries for neonatal teams, teaching patients to use inhalers and home equipment, and charting every treatment.

Skills Employers Look For

• Oklahoma respiratory care license, or eligibility
• NBRC CRT or RRT credential
• BLS, plus ACLS, PALS or NRP
• Ventilator management and arterial blood gases
• Calm judgment during codes and rapid responses
• Clear patient and family teaching
• Willingness to work nights, weekends or float

Career Path and Advancement

Many Tulsa therapists finish the TCC program, earn the CRT and then the RRT, and start on adult floors at a Utica Avenue or Yale Avenue hospital. From there the ladder runs to critical care, neonatal and pediatric teams, then to lead therapist, supervisor and respiratory care manager. Some move into pulmonary rehabilitation or education, and TCC graduates have a transfer path to a bachelor's in health care administration at OSU.

Related Careers in Tulsa

If respiratory care interests you, these Tulsa healthcare roles are close matches:

• Registered Nurse Jobs
• Radiologic Technologist Jobs
• Surgical Technologist Jobs
• Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Oklahoma?

Yes. The Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision licenses respiratory care practitioners. Tulsa hospitals also require an NBRC credential, and many will hire you on a provisional license or temporary letter while your full license is processed.

How much do respiratory therapists make in Tulsa?

The Tulsa median was about $38.60 an hour in the May 2025 federal wage survey. New graduates often start in the high $20s, and night shifts can add a differential, such as the $8 an hour Ascension St. John has advertised.

Where can I study respiratory therapy in Tulsa?

Tulsa Community College offers a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care AAS at its Metro Campus downtown. It runs two years over five terms of full-time day classes and prepares you for the NBRC exams.

What is the difference between a CRT and an RRT?

Both are NBRC credentials. The CRT is the entry credential, and the RRT is the advanced registry credential that many Tulsa hospitals prefer. Hillcrest, for example, hires new graduates and CRTs who earn the RRT within six months.

Do Tulsa hospitals hire new respiratory therapy graduates?

Yes. Saint Francis has posted neonatal respiratory therapist roles open to therapists with under six months of experience, and Hillcrest hires new graduates on the path to the RRT.

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