Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Omaha, NE
Respiratory therapists in Omaha earn a metro median near $39.07 an hour, working ICUs, ERs and NICUs from Bergan Mercy on Mercy Road to Children's Nebraska on Dodge Street. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires, what it pays and how to get licensed in Nebraska.
Current respiratory therapist Openings in Omaha, NE
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Respiratory Therapist Work in Omaha
Omaha's respiratory therapists are concentrated in its big hospitals. CHI Health staffs ICU, ED and ECMO coverage at Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy, the metro's Level I trauma center, and at Immanuel in north Omaha near I-680. Nebraska Medicine treats adult and pediatric lung patients at the Nebraska Medical Center in Midtown, and Children's Nebraska and Methodist Hospital share the Dodge Street medical mile near 84th, where neonatal and pediatric critical care drive steady demand.
Because the systems compete for the same pool of licensed therapists, Omaha postings often carry PRN, float and specialty roles, and some CHI Health postings accept either a Nebraska or an Iowa license so therapists can cover both sides of the Missouri River.
Top Omaha Employers for Respiratory Therapists
These Omaha health systems employ respiratory therapists in hospital and critical care settings:
- CHI Health - hires respiratory therapists, respiratory care techs and ECMO therapists at Bergan Mercy, Immanuel and its other Omaha hospitals.
- Nebraska Medicine - the academic system's respiratory therapists treat patients of all ages with acute and chronic lung conditions at the Nebraska Medical Center.
- Children's Nebraska - the pediatric hospital at 8200 Dodge recruits respiratory therapists for its pediatric and neonatal units.
- Methodist Health System - features respiratory care among its core career areas at Methodist Hospital on Dodge Street.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in Omaha
- Entry level: about $31 to $34 per hour for newly licensed therapists.
- Experienced: roughly $34 to $41 per hour, with the metro median near $39.07.
- Senior and specialty: $41 to $48 per hour or more for ECMO, neonatal and lead therapists.
These are estimates drawn from 2025 federal wage data for the Omaha metro and current local postings. CHI Health has posted respiratory therapist pay of $33.84 to $50.34 an hour for PRN roles at Immanuel and Bergan Mercy. The RRT credential, critical care experience, night and weekend shifts and specialty skills such as ECMO move pay the most.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in Omaha
Nebraska requires a license. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit issues the Respiratory Care license, with the Board of Respiratory Care Practice overseeing the profession. Start with an accredited program: Metropolitan Community College offers a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Therapy associate degree at its South Omaha Campus, and Nebraska Methodist College on 87th Street holds CoARC accreditation for its respiratory care degrees. Graduates take the National Board for Respiratory Care exams, and Omaha hospitals typically want the RRT credential on hire or within a year.
What the Job Involves
Respiratory therapists assess breathing, manage ventilators and deliver oxygen, aerosol and airway treatments. Daily work includes responding to rapid responses and codes, drawing and reading arterial blood gases, adjusting ventilator settings with physicians, helping wean patients off the ventilator, and teaching patients with asthma or COPD how to manage their condition.
Skills Employers Look For
- NBRC credential, RRT preferred or required within a year
- Nebraska Respiratory Care license
- Current BLS and ACLS, with PALS and NRP for pediatric and neonatal units
- Ventilator management and arterial blood gas skills
- Calm judgment during codes and rapid responses
- Clear patient and family teaching
Career Path and Advancement
Most Omaha therapists start on adult floors and ICUs, then specialize in neonatal and pediatric care at Children's Nebraska or in ECMO and critical care at Bergan Mercy and the Nebraska Medical Center. From there the path runs to lead therapist, clinical educator and department manager, and Nebraska Methodist College's online RRT-to-BSRT program lets working therapists finish a bachelor's degree.
Related Careers in Omaha
If respiratory care interests you, these related Omaha roles are close matches:
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Surgical Technologist Jobs
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a respiratory therapist in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska DHHS issues the Respiratory Care license, and Omaha hospitals require it on hire. Licenses expire June 1 of even-numbered years and renew with 20 hours of continuing education.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Omaha?
The Omaha metro median is about $39.07 an hour, roughly $81,270 a year. New therapists generally start near $31 to $34 an hour, and specialty and lead roles can pass $48.
Where can I study respiratory therapy in Omaha?
Metropolitan Community College runs a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Therapy associate degree at its South Omaha Campus. Nebraska Methodist College also holds CoARC accreditation for its respiratory care programs, including an online RRT-to-BSRT completion degree.
Do I need the RRT or is the CRT enough?
The CRT can get you hired, but many Omaha hospitals require you to earn the RRT within about a year, and specialty roles such as ECMO ask for the RRT on hire. The NBRC is moving to a single Respiratory Therapy Examination in January 2027.
What shifts do Omaha respiratory therapists work?
Hospital respiratory care runs 24 hours a day, so expect day or night shifts with rotating weekends and holidays. PRN and float roles at CHI Health let experienced therapists pick up shifts across hospitals.
Ready to apply? Browse all Respiratory Therapist jobs in Omaha, NE on LocalJobPage and apply today.