Clinical Lab Technologists vs Respiratory Therapists
Median pay is about $19k higher for Respiratory Therapists. Pay for Clinical Lab Technologists is not a BLS figure for that job alone; the table marks it. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Clinical Lab Technologists and associate's for Respiratory Therapists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Clinical Lab Technologists | Respiratory Therapists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $62,930 BLS, related | $82,280 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $47,650 BLS, related | $74,520 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $81,450 BLS, related | $98,730 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +2.7% Growing BLS, related | +8.5% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 20,800 BLS, related | 8,600 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.6 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 75th pct | 41st pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Clinical Lab Technologists
- Science
Only Respiratory Therapists
- Active Learning
Both lean on reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, monitoring.
More comparisons
Compare Clinical Lab Technologists with
Compare Respiratory Therapists with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035), except the figures marked in the table. Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.