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Respiratory therapy technician

Also called breathing technician, respiratory therapist, respiratory technician

Respiratory therapy technicians assist doctors and surgeons to treat respiratory problems. They work in hospitals and medical facilities where they operate medical equipment to test patients' respiratory conditions and aid in their treatment. Respiratory therapy technicians also tend to breathing equipment and machines during surgery.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects41 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Health associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,500 (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Health associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Health associate professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified · ILO

What you'd do

Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified · ILO
  • Interviewing and examining patients to obtain information on their health status and the nature and extent of injury, illness or other physical or mental health condition
  • Providing information and counselling to patients and families about certain health conditions, prevention and treatment options, treatment adherence, and personal behaviours that can affect health outcomes
  • Administering therapeutic care and treatment to patients; (d ) performing certain basic clinical procedures, such as administration of HIV antibody tests or insertion of intrauterine devices
  • Dispensing and advising on dietary supplements, antiretroviral and prophylaxis medications, and other healthcare products
  • Monitoring patients' progress through treatment plans, and identifying signs and symptoms requiring referral to a medical doctor or other health professional
  • Recording information on patients' health status and responses to treatment in medical records-keeping systems
  • Sharing information with other health care providers when required to ensure continuing and comprehensive care
Communicate in healthcareComply with legislation related to health careComply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceEnsure safety of healthcare usersWork in multidisciplinary health teams+ 5 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Respiratory Therapists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as health associate professionals in the EU
6.04m6.64m7.71m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
921,000 new jobs 1,847,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Health associate professionals41
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of health associate professionals not elsewhere classified, 5 a surplus.
Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,500 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in medicine is the usual route.

Highest qualification of health associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 37%Vocational 49%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 8%
Field that teaches it
Medicine
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Health and welfare graduates in a matching job
81% in the EU

946 institutions in the EU offer health and welfare bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.30 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Recording information on patients' health status and responses to treatment in medical records-keeping systems0.60
Dispensing and advising on dietary supplements, antiretroviral and prophylaxis medications, and other healthcare products0.35
Providing information and counselling to patients and families about certain health conditions, prevention and treatment options, treatment adherence, and personal behaviours that can affect health outcomes0.33
Sharing information with other health care providers when required to ensure continuing and comprehensive care0.27
Monitoring patients' progress through treatment plans, and identifying signs and symptoms requiring referral to a medical doctor or other health professional0.25
Interviewing and examining patients to obtain information on their health status and the nature and extent of injury, illness or other physical or mental health condition0.22
Administering therapeutic care and treatment to patients; (d ) performing certain basic clinical procedures, such as administration of HIV antibody tests or insertion of intrauterine devices0.12

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for health associate professionals not elsewhere classified. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).