Respiratory Therapists pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,450 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Lake Charles earn between $64,080 and $81,530.
- $59K10th
- $64K25th
- $74KMedian
- $82K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,550 | $6,046 | $34.88 |
| Median | $73,680 | $6,140 | $35.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,080 | $5,340 | $30.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,530 | $6,794 | $39.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Lake Charles earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($74,690) and 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $72,550 | $73,680 | $58,640 | $83,450 | 60 |
| 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 Lake Charles
On the average salary of $72,550, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $58,079 a year, or $4,840 a month and $2,234 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 Lake Charles a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lake Charles area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $72,550 buys what about $84,506 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 9th 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 Lake Charles: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Lake Charles?
$34.88 an hour on average, and $35.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $58,079 a year ($4,840 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,550.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Lake Charles, LA (29340). 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 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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