Respiratory Therapists pay range in Baton Rouge
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,060 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Baton Rouge earn between $63,930 and $81,580.
- $60K10th
- $64K25th
- $74KMedian
- $82K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,230 | $6,436 | $37.13 |
| Median | $74,220 | $6,185 | $35.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,930 | $5,328 | $30.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,580 | $6,798 | $39.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Baton Rouge vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Baton Rouge earn 3% more than the Louisiana average ($74,690) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $77,230 | $74,220 | $60,420 | $98,060 | 320 |
| Louisiana | $74,690 | $75,240 | $61,520 | $91,200 | 2,520 |
| United States | $87,300 | $82,280 | $63,660 | $118,050 | 139,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Respiratory Therapists salary after taxes in Baton Rouge
On the average salary of $77,230, a single filer in Baton Rouge takes home about $61,231 a year, or $5,103 a month and $2,355 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Baton Rouge a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baton Rouge area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $77,230 buys what about $85,074 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Baton Rouge ($48,710). A typical home costs $248,176, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Louisiana cities
Baton Rouge ranks 2nd of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Hammond pays the most ($79,610).
- Hammond$79,610
- Baton Rouge$77,230
- New Orleans$76,520
- Lafayette$75,670
- Shreveport$74,300
- Slidell$74,040
- Alexandria$73,300
- Monroe$73,210
- Lake Charles$72,550
- Houma$67,560
Highest-paying cities for respiratory therapists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,490).
- San Jose, CA$146,490
- Santa Cruz, CA$133,510
- Vallejo, CA$133,510
- San Francisco, CA$128,490
- Sacramento, CA$124,410
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Respiratory Therapists salary in Baton Rouge: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Baton Rouge?
$37.13 an hour on average, and $35.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Baton Rouge?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Baton Rouge?
About $61,231 a year ($5,103 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,230.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Baton Rouge than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($87,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1126; area Baton Rouge, LA (12940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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