H-1B Visa Hiring for Respiratory Therapists Shows Minimal Activity
Explore H-1B visa filings for Respiratory Therapists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 36 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 36 |
| Approval Rate | 94% |
| Average Salary | $66,184 |
| Salary Range | $48,027 - $89,440 |
| Top Sponsor | Rush University Medical Center |
| Primary Location | Kentucky |
Respiratory Therapists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 3 filings and an average salary of $71,142. The demand for Respiratory Therapists on H-1B visas is relatively low, with only 3 petitions filed in FY2025. The average salary offered to H-1B Respiratory Therapists is competitive, with a median of $67,226. There is a significant disparity between the highest and lowest salaries, indicating a wide range of experience and responsibilities.
| Total Filings | 36 |
| Approval Rate | 94% |
| Average Salary | $66,184 |
| Median Salary | $67,226 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,198 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,491 |
| Minimum Salary | $48,027 |
| Maximum Salary | $89,440 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,541 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,198 |
| Median (50th) | $67,226 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,491 |
| 90th Percentile | $82,555 |
| Average | $66,184 |
| Sample Size | 36 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 36 |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 11 |
| Illinois | 7 |
| Florida | 5 |
| North Carolina | 4 |
| Georgia | 3 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 2 |
| Utah | 2 |
| Massachusetts | 1 |
| Minnesota | 1 |
Focus on roles with higher H-1B demand and explore opportunities in states with more established H-1B hiring patterns for healthcare professionals.
The average H-1B salary for Respiratory Therapists is $71,142, with a median of $67,226. The 25th-75th percentile range is $63,645 to $82,555.
Top H-1B sponsors for Respiratory Therapists include University Medical Center, Inc., Rush University Medical Center. A total of 2 employers have filed for this role.
There are 3 H-1B filings on record for Respiratory Therapists positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Respiratory Therapists positions are Kentucky (2), Illinois (1).
Yes, Respiratory Therapists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 3 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Respiratory Therapists salaries range from $63,645 to $82,555. The median salary is $67,226.
The approval rate for Respiratory Therapists H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The total number of H-1B petitions filed for Respiratory Therapists is extremely small, suggesting limited reliance on foreign talent for this role.
The median salary is $67,226, with the average salary at $71,142, indicating a generally well-compensated field.
Focus on roles with higher H-1B demand and explore opportunities in states with more established H-1B hiring patterns for healthcare professionals.
The salary range is broad, from $63,645 to $82,555, potentially reflecting differences in employer size, location, and required qualifications.
The Respiratory Therapists occupation (SOC code 29-112600) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Respiratory Therapists positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Respiratory Therapists positions is Not Specified (36 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 36 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Respiratory Therapists positions show an average offered salary of $66,184, with a range from $48,027 at the entry level to $89,440 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Kentucky (11 filings) and Illinois (7 filings).
Career outlook for Respiratory Therapists professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Respiratory Therapists role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Respiratory Therapists roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Respiratory Therapists positions, the average offered salary of $66,184 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 2.3%, with 50% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Respiratory Therapists positions is 94%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Respiratory Therapists positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Respiratory Therapists H-1B filings is approximately 36 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Respiratory Therapists positions.