Respiratory Therapist Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Respiratory therapists in San Francisco work the ICUs, emergency departments and newborn units of the City's big hospitals, with private hospital pay posted at about $53 to $75 an hour. UCSF, Sutter's CPMC and Kaiser all employ them. Here are the current openings, then who hires and how to get licensed.
Current respiratory therapist Openings in San Francisco, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Respiratory Therapist Work in San Francisco
In San Francisco, respiratory care is hospital work, and the hospitals are concentrated. UCSF's Department of Anesthesia runs respiratory care at Zuckerberg San Francisco General on Potrero Avenue, the City's trauma center, where therapists work 12-hour shifts and only registered therapists are hired. Sutter Health's California Pacific Medical Center employs RCPs at its Van Ness and Mission Bernal campuses, Kaiser Permanente runs a respiratory therapy department at its 2425 Geary Boulevard hospital, and the City's own Laguna Honda Hospital on Laguna Honda Boulevard hires Respiratory Care Practitioners for long-term and rehab patients.
Most staff roles here ask for the RRT credential, not just the entry-level CRT, plus BLS and often ACLS, NRP or PALS for critical care and newborn work. Pay ranges are posted under California law, and many therapists commute in from the East Bay on BART or from San Mateo County on I-280 and US-101.
Top San Francisco Employers for Respiratory Therapists
These San Francisco employers hire respiratory therapists for hospital and long-term care:
- UCSF - UCSF's Department of Anesthesia hires Registered Respiratory Therapists for Zuckerberg San Francisco General, including 12-hour night shifts.
- Sutter Health CPMC - California Pacific Medical Center hires Respiratory Care Practitioners at its Van Ness and Mission Bernal campuses.
- Kaiser Permanente - the San Francisco hospital on Geary Boulevard runs a respiratory therapy department with staff and supervisor roles.
- San Francisco Department of Public Health - the City hires Respiratory Care Practitioners (class 2536) for Laguna Honda Hospital.
Respiratory Therapist Salaries in San Francisco
- Entry level: about $43 to $60 per hour, from the City's 2536 starting step to the low end of CPMC's ranges.
- Experienced: roughly $60 to $68 per hour for RRTs with two or more years of hospital experience.
- Senior: about $68 to $75 per hour at the top of private hospital ranges and in supervisor roles.
These are estimates drawn from posted ranges: the City's 2536 class pays $90,142 to $109,616 a year, CPMC posted $53.32 to $67.60 an hour at Mission Bernal and $59.93 to $74.91 at Van Ness, and Kaiser posted $65.56 to $70.61 for a supervisor. The RRT credential, critical care and neonatal experience, and evening or night shifts move pay up.
How to Become a Respiratory Therapist in San Francisco
California licenses respiratory therapists through the Respiratory Care Board of California, which issues the Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license. You need an RCP license or work permit to practice, and an NBRC credential alone does not authorize you to work. Licensure requires graduation from a CoARC-accredited program, an associate degree, the RRT credential and a board-approved law and ethics course. The nearest program is the two-year, CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care associate degree at Skyline College in San Bruno, which also offers a bachelor's in respiratory care for working RCPs.
What the Job Involves
Respiratory therapists assess and treat patients who have trouble breathing. Daily work includes setting up and managing ventilators, giving breathing treatments and oxygen, drawing and analyzing arterial blood gases, responding to codes and rapid responses, assisting with intubation, and teaching patients how to use inhalers and home equipment. Therapists chart every treatment and work closely with physicians and nurses.
Skills Employers Look For
- California RCP license
- NBRC RRT credential, required by UCSF and CPMC
- BLS, plus ACLS, NRP or PALS for critical care units
- Ventilator management and arterial blood gas skills
- Critical care, pediatric or neonatal experience
- Clear communication with patients and care teams
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Francisco therapists start on evening, night or part-time shifts at a CPMC campus or Zuckerberg San Francisco General, where UCSF runs an 11-week orientation for new hires. With critical care, pediatric or neonatal experience, therapists move into specialty teams, then into lead, supervisor or manager roles like Kaiser's respiratory care supervisor on Geary. Skyline College's bachelor's degree in respiratory care is built for licensed RCPs who want to move toward education or management.
Related Careers in San Francisco
If respiratory care interests you, these related San Francisco roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do respiratory therapists need a license in San Francisco?
Yes. California requires a Respiratory Care Practitioner license or work permit from the Respiratory Care Board of California. Passing an NBRC exam on its own does not let you practice in the state.
How much do respiratory therapists make in San Francisco?
Posted private hospital ranges run from about $53 to $75 an hour, with CPMC Van Ness at $59.93 to $74.91. City jobs at Laguna Honda pay $90,142 to $109,616 a year, and night and critical care work pay more.
Do San Francisco hospitals require the RRT credential?
Most do. UCSF's respiratory care team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General hires only registered therapists, and CPMC lists RRT as a requirement. Some roles accept the CRT, so read each posting.
Where can I study respiratory therapy near San Francisco?
Skyline College in San Bruno runs a two-year, CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care program that prepares you for the board exams and California licensure. Skyline also offers a bachelor's degree for licensed RCPs who want to move up.
What shifts do respiratory therapists work in San Francisco?
Shifts vary by hospital. The standard week on UCSF's team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General is three 12-hour shifts, UCSF posts 12-hour night roles there, and CPMC has posted part-time 8-hour evening shifts with every other weekend.
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