PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Adult Respiratory Therapist (CRT or RRT) - FT-Nights- Jeff Hwy
Ochsner · New Orleans, LA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in New Orleans, LA
Respiratory Therapists in the New Orleans area earn a median of $37.30 per hour, about $77,590 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $31.06 and $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 10 hospitals in New Orleans. The free report below lists employers near New Orleans and what they pay.
- $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)
More open Respiratory Therapist roles in New Orleans
2 more open roles from employers in New Orleans. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 20 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist - Full-time - Pediatric Pulmonology Clinic
Ochsner · New Orleans, LA
Pay range with your report
Respiratory Therapist pay in New Orleans, 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 New Orleans 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.
Get the New Orleans Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near New Orleans, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in New Orleans
- 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.
Estimate your New Orleans paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,343
- 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 New Orleans
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $158 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,666 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,658 |
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. 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 New Orleans
CMS lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System New Orleans, LA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| University Medical Center New Orleans New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans, LA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| St Charles Surgical Hospital New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Other | Not rated | No |
| Beacon Behavioral Hospital- New Orleans, Llc New Orleans, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Community Care Hospital New Orleans, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| River Oaks Hospital New Orleans, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenner, LA | 19 mi | $37.30/hr | 64,650 |
| Gulfport, MS | 58 mi | $31.54/hr | 74,621 |
| Mobile, AL | 117 mi | $32.42/hr | 201,367 |
| Jackson, MS | 157 mi | $32.59/hr | 141,449 |
| Pensacola, FL | 166 mi | $38.92/hr | 53,898 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 196 mi | $36.59/hr | 81,157 |
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 New Orleans
New Orleans city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in New Orleans, 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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
CMS lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans, led by Ochsner Medical Center Acute. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Louisiana license to work in New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
The federal per diem benchmark in New Orleans is $158 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,666 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in New Orleans?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in New Orleans and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near New Orleans.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near New Orleans 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.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
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
Low$29Median$41.44High$58
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 New Orleans, LA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.