Respiratory Therapist: career path and pay in the UK
Where a Respiratory Therapist goes next, what each step typically pays in the United Kingdom, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Respiratory Therapist to Senior Respiratory Therapist / RT Manager / Director of Respiratory Care.
Also for the United States: Respiratory Therapist in the US
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Respiratory Therapist
£25K to £35K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) - US, HCPC Registration - UK/EU, CRT (optional) - US.
Step 2 · 3 to 8 years
Respiratory Therapist / Senior RT
£25K to £35K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: RRT - US, HCPC Registration - UK/EU, CRT - US, Specialty Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 8+ years
Senior Respiratory Therapist / RT Manager / Director of Respiratory Care
£30K to £45K
Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: RRT - US, HCPC Registration - UK/EU, CRT - US, Specialty Certification - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
£25K to £35K → £30K to £45K
UK estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale UK. No UK estimate was found for Lead Respiratory Physiologist; this band is placed between the neighbouring steps.
What the work involves
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Psychology
- Mechanical
Education people bring
Job Zone 3, job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Other paths from here
- RT Manager
- Director of Respiratory Care
- Healthcare Administrator
- RT Educator
More Healthcare paths in the UK
Related occupations in O*NET: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Paramedics, Acute Care Nurses, Radiation Therapists, Critical Care Nurses.
Your own role
How exposed is your job, task by task? Free score in under a minute.
SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale UK, UK national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor UK, Indeed UK and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to £5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.