Key Points
- Respiratory therapists diagnose and treat patients with cardiopulmonary conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, earning a median annual wage of $80,450 as of May 2024.
- Surgical technologists, sometimes called surgical technicians, prepare sterile operating rooms and assist surgeons during procedures, earning a median annual wage of $62,830.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% employment growth for respiratory therapists and 4% for surgical technologists between 2024 and 2034.
- Becoming a respiratory therapist typically requires an associate degree in respiratory therapy, while surgical technologists can enter the field with a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or associate degree.
- Both careers require passing a national certification exam, but respiratory therapists must also obtain state licensure in every state except Alaska, which has no RT licensure requirement.
What Is a Respiratory Therapist?
A respiratory therapist is a licensed healthcare professional who evaluates, treats, and manages patients with breathing disorders and other cardiopulmonary conditions. Working under physician direction, respiratory therapists perform diagnostic tests such as arterial blood gas analysis and pulmonary function testing, manage life-support ventilators in intensive care units, and administer inhaled medications and chest physiotherapy.
The scope of the profession has expanded considerably in recent years. Many respiratory therapists now use remote monitoring tools and digital health platforms to manage patients recovering at home, a practice known as tele-respiratory care. The American Association for Respiratory Care has reported growing demand for RTs trained in both traditional bedside care and telehealth delivery.
Respiratory therapists work across a wide range of clinical settings, including hospital ICUs, emergency departments, neonatal units, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation clinics, sleep disorder centers, and home healthcare agencies. That variety is one of the profession's strongest draws for people who prefer not to be confined to a single department.
What Is a Surgical Technician?
A surgical technician, also known as a surgical technologist, is an allied health professional who works as part of the operating room team. The two titles refer to the same role. "Surgical technologist" is the formal term used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), while "surgical technician" is more commonly used in everyday conversation and job listings.
Surgical technologists are responsible for ensuring that the operating room is sterile, organized, and fully equipped before a procedure begins. During surgery, they pass instruments and supplies to the surgeon, maintain the sterile field, and handle tissue specimens. After the procedure, they help prepare the OR for the next case.
The role has grown more technical with the spread of robotic-assisted surgery. In hospitals that use platforms like the da Vinci Surgical System, surgical technologists are often responsible for robotic system setup, instrument loading, and first-line troubleshooting, according to guidelines published by the Association of Surgical Technologists. That shift has made specialized training in robotic procedures a competitive advantage for job seekers.
How the Two Roles Differ Day to Day
The clearest difference between these careers is where and how you spend your working hours.
Respiratory therapists have extensive, ongoing contact with conscious patients. A typical shift might include assessing a newly admitted COPD patient, adjusting ventilator settings for a critically ill patient in the ICU, running a pulmonary function test in the outpatient lab, and teaching an asthma patient how to use an inhaler correctly. The work is diagnostic and therapeutic, focused entirely on the cardiopulmonary system. It involves continuous clinical judgment, patient education, and collaboration with physicians, nurses, and other team members.
Surgical technologists have a very different rhythm. Their work is procedure-driven and concentrated in the operating room. A typical day involves reviewing the surgical schedule, pulling and sterilizing instrument trays for each case, scrubbing in, anticipating the surgeon's needs during the operation, and turning over the room between procedures. Patient interaction is limited because patients are typically under anesthesia. The focus is on precision, speed, and maintaining a completely sterile environment.
Respiratory therapists also tend to have more varied work settings. While surgical technologists work almost exclusively in operating rooms within hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and dental offices, respiratory therapists move between ICUs, emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, and even patients' homes.
Training and Certification Requirements
Respiratory Therapist
The standard entry-level education for a respiratory therapist is an associate degree in respiratory therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). These programs typically take two years to complete and include coursework in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and cardiopulmonary pathology, along with extensive clinical rotations in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Some employers prefer or require a bachelor's degree, particularly for advancement into leadership or education roles.
In-state tuition at public community colleges for an associate degree in respiratory therapy typically ranges from $4,000 to $7,000 for tuition alone. Total program costs, which include fees, books, lab supplies, and clinical expenses, will be higher.
After graduation, all states except Alaska require respiratory therapists to be licensed. Licensure requires passing a national board exam administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The entry-level credential is the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), and the advanced credential is the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). The NBRC's CRT-to-Registry admission policy is set to expire on December 31, 2026, after which candidates will need to graduate from a CoARC-accredited program with at least an associate degree to qualify for the new Respiratory Therapy Examination.
Surgical Technician
Surgical technologists can enter the field through a certificate, diploma, or associate degree program. Certificate and diploma programs can be completed in as few as 9 to 12 months, while associate degree programs typically take about 24 months. Programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
In-state tuition for a surgical technology program at a public institution can range from approximately $3,100 to $5,400 for certificate programs, while associate degree programs at private institutions can cost significantly more. Total program costs vary widely depending on the school and program type.
Certification is not required in every state, but most employers prefer to hire Certified Surgical Technologists (CST). The CST credential is earned by passing an exam administered by the NBSTSA. A financial development worth noting: the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act, signed into law in July 2025 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, now allows individuals to use funds from 529 education savings plans to pay for certification exam fees, continuing education costs, and other credentialing expenses. This applies broadly to postsecondary credentials accredited by recognized organizations, including the CST.
Respiratory Therapist vs Surgical Technician Salary and Job Outlook
Respiratory Therapist Salary
The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $80,450 in May 2024, according to BLS. The lowest 10% earned less than $61,900, and the highest 10% earned more than $108,820.
Employment is projected to grow by 12% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Approximately 8,800 openings are projected each year over the decade, driven by the needs of an aging population, the rising prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and the continued expansion of home-based respiratory care.
Surgical Technician Salary
The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $62,830 in May 2024. The lowest 10% earned less than $43,290, and the highest 10% earned more than $90,700.
Employment is projected to grow by 4% from 2024 to 2034 with about 8,700 openings projected annually, supported by an aging population requiring more surgical procedures and by advances in surgical technology that have made more operations feasible.
Thinking about which of these salary ranges fits your career goals? Browse respiratory therapy and surgical technology programs on Dreambound to compare options by cost, length, and format.
Where the Two Roles Overlap
A common question is whether a surgical technologist could transition into respiratory therapy, or vice versa. The short answer is that each career requires its own distinct credential, and there is no direct lateral transfer between them.
However, the foundational knowledge does overlap in several areas. Both programs cover human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology. Both roles require strict adherence to infection control protocols and the ability to function under pressure in high-stakes clinical environments. A surgical technologist who decides to pursue respiratory therapy would need to complete a full RT program but would enter it with a solid base in medical sciences and clinical workflow.
From a licensing perspective, respiratory therapy is regulated in every state except Alaska, which does not require RT licensure but still expects practitioners to have completed an accredited program. Surgical technology requirements vary much more widely. According to the Association of Surgical Technologists, a growing number of states now mandate education, certification, or registration for surgical technologists, but many states still have no legal requirements at all, leaving hiring standards to individual employers and facilities.
Which Program Is the Right Fit for You?
Respiratory therapy may be the stronger fit if you:
- Want higher earning potential with a median salary above $80,000
- Prefer direct, ongoing patient interaction and relationship-building
- Have a strong interest in physiology, diagnostics, and complex medical equipment
- Are comfortable with the time commitment of a two-year associate degree plus state licensure
- Want the flexibility to work across multiple clinical settings, from ICUs to home healthcare Surgical technology may be the stronger fit if you:
- Want to enter the healthcare workforce faster through a certificate program that can take under two years
- Are detail-oriented and perform well in structured, high-pressure environments
- Are fascinated by surgical procedures and operating room technology
- Prefer a role with less direct patient interaction and more focus on technical precision
- Are interested in specializing in robotic-assisted surgery as hospitals adopt new platforms
