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2-step progression from Respiratory Therapist to Perfusionist. Potential salary increase of 93% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$80,450
Respiratory Therapist
Top Salary
$155,000
Perfusionist
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$80,450
Associate/bachelor's in respiratory care + NBRC TMC + CSE
Avg. Licensing Cost
$651
Avg. Timeline
2.2 years – 4.3 years
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Median Salary
$155,000
Bachelor's + perfusion program (2 years) + ABCP certification
Avg. Licensing Cost
$256
Avg. Timeline
6.2 years – 6.7 years
The respiratory care career path is a professional progression from Respiratory Therapist to Perfusionist. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Respiratory Therapist ($80,450 median) to Perfusionist ($155,000 median) represents a 93% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Respiratory Therapist: Associate/bachelor's in respiratory care + NBRC TMC + CSE. Perfusionist: Bachelor's + perfusion program (2 years) + ABCP certification. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Planning your next career move?
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.