Average Respiratory Pay in Los Angeles California

Anonymous in Phoenix, Arizona said: I work night shift as a RRT per diem therapist for a particular hospital in PHX AZ. Meaning I don't get any benifits. However, after shift differential factored in, I make $33.60 an hour. Double time is offered for any shifts over 36 hours. Meaning that extra shifts I pick up I make $67.20 an hour. Yes, I make just over $800 for an extra 12 hour shift, and I am able to pick up to 2 to 4 shift per pay period.
Anyway, what I have observed from applying to hospitals in California is the pay they are willing to offer me makes moving there not worth it. When you factor in the outrageous cost of living and the bull sh*t California state income taxes you realize that what they are offering RTs makes it definitly not worth it. I was talking to a PICU physcian that was working at UCLA, and he told me that he himself could not afford to buy a decent home to live in. Cali is definitley a state in where there are "Haves and have nots". I guess the weather makes it worth it.

Hi - Can you tell me which hospital and registry you work for in PHX?

Kenny B in Phoenix, Arizona said: I am an RRT with 12 twelve years of experience currently living in Arizona. I recently got my California license and I am interested in relocating to Los Angeles California. I was wondering if anyone that is familiar with this scene please clue me into what are the good hospitals to work at, and which one should I avoid. Also, what seems to be the average base pay most RTs are getting in the LA hospitals. So I know what to negotiate. Finally, does the LA hospitals use alot of agency therapist even during the summer time.

The Respiratory field in most of southern California is very crowded due to the fact that alot of schools are spitting out out students faster then there are jobs. The new grads are unable to find jobs. My advise to you is to stay in AZ. I work for a large hospital in the Inland Empire and our pay is crap.

kaiser employee in Cerritos, California said: sorry buddy but Ill be done faster with concorde and by the time I meet those prerequisites it will be 2 years, plus the 2 years of the program it self???? Nah Nah Nah.... I dont think so... By the time I finish paying the loans at a technical school the average LAVC student will bearly be done with the program. By that time i will already have 2 years expirience. LAVC Pros: Price. Concorde Pros: 18months, 2 years expirience while you pay off loans. :O) Easy to decide. I know what some might say, you must be crazy paying 40k for 18months for RT. well... you must be crazy waiting 2 years plus the program it self. and taking extra classes to meet prerequisites.... 4years???? lol Community college: more classes, more years Technical: More money, Less time. Easy choice

While you have finished the RT program there, your credits are not transferable. While I may have waited a long time, I can use my credits to go into PA school and boss you around. LOL on you.

Hello, i just left california a month ago. I have 14 years experience and i left making $39.85. The average pay in california, los angeles, for new grads is between $25 and $32/hr with no experience. Registry pay is about $500 per shift $600 if you work picu or nicu. I worked at California hospital in downtown la. It is not a good idea to go to concorde, they are expensive and you're basically on your own. I recomment going to community college. And for those who want to know, yes you can make over $100,000 in respiratory if you work 2 jobs. the average respiratory therapist works 3 days a week 12 hour shifts and can make between 60k and 70k. I myself have made 160k before, but i average about 120k per year.

fhennixx in Houston, Texas said: Hello, i just left california a month ago. I have 14 years experience and i left making $39.85. The average pay in california, los angeles, for new grads is between $25 and $32/hr with no experience. Registry pay is about $500 per shift $600 if you work picu or nicu. I worked at California hospital in downtown la. It is not a good idea to go to concorde, they are expensive and you're basically on your own. I recomment going to community college. And for those who want to know, yes you can make over $100,000 in respiratory if you work 2 jobs. the average respiratory therapist works 3 days a week 12 hour shifts and can make between 60k and 70k. I myself have made 160k before, but i average about 120k per year.

I will be moving to LA in the summer to attend UCLA, however I'm looking for PRN/registry opportunities. I have 3yrs of PICU/NICU/ECMO experience. Any idea how much CHLA and UCLA Medical center pay their registry RTs? I am a RRT and NPS credentialed with a BS in RC.

I would like to relocate to california within the L.A. area. Have 40+ years of experience, NRP, ACLS certified working womens ctr, PICU, and incharge of maintaining ABG and Pulmonary Lab. 90+% of our pulmonary patients are assessed and cared for via protocol. Yeah.. no unnecessary Q4 tx! My daughters live in LA and I wish to move closer. What are the chances of finding a hospital in the L.A. area where protocol is the method of care. I also fear age discrimination.

I would like to relocate to california within the L.A. area. Have 40+ years of experience, NRP, ACLS certified working womens ctr, PICU, and incharge of maintaining ABG and Pulmonary Lab. 90+% of our pulmonary patients are assessed and cared for via protocol. Yeah.. no unnecessary Q4 tx! I love RT and wish to remain working at least full time. My daughters live in LA and I wish to move closer. What are the chances of finding a hospital in L.A. that uses protocols.

Riverside County hospital starts experienced RT (RE,CRT,RRT) at $26ph and no OT.

County/state,VA hosps pay the least followed closely by the university hospitals.
District hospitals , state,county & VA hospitals are exempt from paying overtime,eg the last 4 of a 12 hr shift.

%35 is about the tops entry wage experience or not,and this is where hospitals usually are "district" status. No OT on 12 hr shifts

I have been told first year grads make $17 to 25 Chiefly because of the glut of RTs the schools have been putting out since about 2003.

One has to have worked acute for a year minimum before being able to work "registry".

Registry commonly gets cancelled 2 hrs before a booked shift is to begin.This can go on many days in a row and you may not be able to get out of prior bookings once committed.
Many hospitals will send you home after 4 ,6,8 hrs to keep costs down.

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Some hospitals book you one day at a time,some dont until 2 hrs before the shift starts.if census falls enough ,you get cancelled 2 hr before the shift starts.
Some book you 1 week or more in advance,but let their own staff "bump" you ,and you are not told until 2 or so hours before shift starts.
These are just some of the thhings "registry" has to put up with.
You are better off as an employee making much less per hour usually.

Hospitals really use this or abuse this since about 2006 or 7 when the economy got bad.

Some , maybe even many hospitals are demanding more production from nursing and RT. The hospitals are minimizing costs even more so last few years. Where typical assignments have increased 30-60%.

This often times means much doesnt get done period. That CAN/MAY easily be a difficult situation to document,justify etc.
Assignments now are more common on mutiple floors or locations , More isolation patients exist now. More docs and paperwork.
There are some exception above,but generally this is what I have learned over the years. It has worsened since about 2007.

Hey all.
Just a question... Im going to start the RT program in the fall, however just wanted to know if I would be wasting my time. When I was a teenager, about 13 years ago now, i got myself in a mess with writing a few bad checks and wracked up a couple of misdemeanors. Im not that kid anymore, thankfully I grew up and no longer do things like that. But, the question, will those charges prohibit me from getting licensed as an RT in New York?

Thanks

@ not a dumb kid

Yes! You are wasting your time. You have a criminal background and it will most likely hunt you forever. I not sure about New York, but before a license is given to a person a background check is done with finger prints. An employer will conduct its own background check as well. You may not be able to work.

@ not a dumb kid

Yes! You are wasting your time. You have a criminal background and it will most likely hunt you forever. I not sure about New York, but before a license is given to a person a background check is done with finger prints. An employer will conduct its own background check as well. You may not be able to work.

later

Don't do it!!!!!! in Riverside, California said: @ not a dumb kid

Yes! You are wasting your time. You have a criminal background and it will most likely hunt you forever.
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I only know what Ive read about how the respiratory board is very attentive as to your behavior on or off the jobsite.
Accuasations are all that necessary in some cases for your luicense to be suspended.
I have no experience with this but have read and heard this from time to time.

I work registry part time and many students i run across whie they are doing their last year rotation training say they cant line up jobs due to the saturation of the market.

I wouldnt advise moving here for work as an RT

I have a question. My wife has a good salary and benefits at her cuurent employer. Therefore, I don't need health benefits. What would be the best route for for me? Get a couple of PRN jobs? I like to travel a lot,Cabo, Puerta Vallarta, Barbabos, Mazatlan, you name it. Looking to make about between 50k and 60 k per year. Is this possible if I take off about 12-15 weeks per year?

anyone know of any schools in North Carolina for RT?

fhennixx in Houston, Texas said: Hello, i just left california a month ago. I have 14 years experience and i left making $39.85. The average pay in california, los angeles, for new grads is between $25 and $32/hr with no experience. Registry pay is about $500 per shift $600 if you work picu or nicu. I worked at California hospital in downtown la. It is not a good idea to go to concorde, they are expensive and you're basically on your own. I recomment going to community college. And for those who want to know, yes you can make over $100,000 in respiratory if you work 2 jobs. the average respiratory therapist works 3 days a week 12 hour shifts and can make between 60k and 70k. I myself have made 160k before, but i average about 120k per year.

Do you know what hospitals in California accept new grads?

I am considering of enrolling in the Respiratory Program at my community college. I have completed all of the pre requisites and I think I would be a great fit for this career. I would like to know what is the starting base pay at your hospitals? I have seen the averages but the averages dont tell me much.I would like to know the starting rate for the Los Angeles County area please?

Misty in Los Alamitos, California said: Back in the day when there was only a one year wait for RT school compared to 2 yrs for RN, I chose the RT program because I was self-supporting. This decision, made when I was just 18 years old, has cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay. After working a few years as a RT, I inquired about becoming a RN, but was told I would have to take all my science pre-requisites over again because they were more than 5 years old. That was not possible at the time. I have since earned a Masters degree, but many doors that are open to a RN with just an Associate degree are closed to me. RNs have the power in numbers. RTs have not done a good job gaining respect as a legitimate profession. Be assertive and offer to take on more responsibility, make yourself indispensable, and don't give anything away to nursing.

Misty, What did you receive your Master's in?

Mary in Hacienda Heights, California said: I am considering of enrolling in the Respiratory Program at my community college. I have completed all of the pre requisites and I think I would be a great fit for this career. I would like to know what is the starting base pay at your hospitals? I have seen the averages but the averages dont tell me much.I would like to know the starting rate for the Los Angeles County area please?

omg dont worry about the pay. worry about getting a job first lol. SOOOO HARD TO GET A JOB. Too many new grads and not enough jobs. Please reconsider. I understand its your dream but sometimes we need that reality check for our own future sake!!!

Hi everyone,
I recently graduated from high school, although have been going to a community for a bit over a year or two, which I have been taking my general ED and classes for an AS in child development, although now thanks to the economy I been debating to go in that medical field such as Respiratory Therapy the only issue is I want to finish soon before it’s too late. Does anyone have any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I was also wondering if anyone has any reviews based on Platt College in California. Please reply with any information. Thank You!

30 yr RT in Cathedral City, California said: CONT. FROM PRIOR

I strongly agree with your comment. Similar experience in the last few years.

Monique A in Arcadia, California said: Hi everyone,
I recently graduated from high school, although have been going to a community for a bit over a year or two, which I have been taking my general ED and classes for an AS in child development, although now thanks to the economy I been debating to go in that medical field such as Respiratory Therapy the only issue is I want to finish soon before it’s too late. Does anyone have any advice I would greatly appreciate it. I was also wondering if anyone has any reviews based on Platt College in California. Please reply with any information. Thank You!

go for something else. Respiratory is dead as of now. Really hard to get a job. We graduated 7 months ago and we all passed our boards 30 of us and none of us got a job. New grads from last month no jobs either. Go for something else you wont regret it...