Respiratory Therapist jobs in Kenner, LA
The median respiratory therapist pay in the Kenner area is $37.30 per hour ($77,590 a year), with the typical range running from $31.06 to $38.38. That ranks 129th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 88th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Kenner. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Kenner.
- $37.30median pay per hour, New Orleans
- $31–$38typical range per hour
- 590respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Kenner, LA
The metro median is 11% above the Louisiana statewide median of $33.72 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 590 respiratory therapists employed in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.52).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.70 | $63,860 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.06 | $64,600 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.30 | $77,590 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $38.38 | $79,830 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $44.15 | $91,830 | 14% above U.S. median |
How Kenner ranks
- 129th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 88th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 8 Louisiana metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Kenner
- Overall prices in New Orleans-Metairie run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.30 median hour buys what $40.28 buys at the national price level, 4% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Kenner Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Kenner, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Kenner paycheck
- Per year: $67,140
- Per month: $5,595
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the New Orleans-Metairie metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Kenner
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel respiratory therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Kenner
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kenner, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner Kenner, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Greater New Orleans Kenner, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Perimeter Behavioral Hospital Of New Orleans Kenner, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 19 mi | $37.30/hr | 362,701 |
| Gulfport, MS | 76 mi | $31.54/hr | 74,621 |
| Mobile, AL | 136 mi | $32.42/hr | 201,367 |
| Jackson, MS | 159 mi | $32.59/hr | 141,449 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 177 mi | $36.59/hr | 81,157 |
| Pensacola, FL | 185 mi | $38.92/hr | 53,898 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Louisiana · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Louisiana
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Louisiana taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Kenner
Kenner city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Kenner, LA?
Respiratory Therapists in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area have a median pay of $37.30 per hour, about $77,590 a year. The middle half earn between $31.06 and $38.38 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Kenner a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
New Orleans-Metairie ranks 88th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 129th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Kenner?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kenner, led by Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Louisiana license to work in Kenner as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Kenner?
The federal per diem benchmark in Kenner is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Kenner?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Kenner and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Kenner.
What do employers near Kenner pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
50+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Louisiana, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your RT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Louisiana list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthSacramento, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
- Fairview Health ServicesGrand Rapids, MN · 7 postings$53.34/ hr$36–$63
- Centrastate Healthcare SystemFreehold, NJ · 3 postings$51.30/ hr$38–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Louisiana list
2What they are offering now
396 RT postings with published pay in the US, 319 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open RT roles
Open RT roles near Kenner, LA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.