Respiratory Therapists pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,070 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Lafayette earn between $66,320 and $78,540.
- $61K10th
- $66K25th
- $76KMedian
- $79K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,670 | $6,306 | $36.38 |
| Median | $76,210 | $6,351 | $36.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,320 | $5,527 | $31.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,540 | $6,545 | $37.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Lafayette earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($74,690) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $75,670 | $76,210 | $61,460 | $87,070 | 290 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $75,670, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $60,180 a year, or $5,015 a month and $2,315 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $75,670 buys what about $86,769 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 4th 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 Lafayette: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Lafayette?
$36.38 an hour on average, and $36.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $60,180 a year ($5,015 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,670.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.80, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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