Respiratory Therapist jobs in Shreveport, LA
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Shreveport area centers on $35.86 per hour, or about $74,580 a year. The lower quarter earns under $31.00 and the upper quarter over $38.55. That ranks 174th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 38th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Shreveport. The free report below lists employers near Shreveport and what they pay.
- $35.86median pay per hour, Shreveport
- $31–$39typical range per hour
- 330respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 85cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Shreveport, LA
The metro median is 6% above the Louisiana statewide median of $33.72 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 330 respiratory therapists employed in the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.35).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $28.73 | $59,760 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.00 | $64,480 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $35.86 | $74,580 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $38.55 | $80,180 | in line with U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $40.60 | $84,450 | 5% above U.S. median |
How Shreveport ranks
- 174th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 38th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th 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 Shreveport
- Overall prices in Shreveport-Bossier City run 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 48% below the U.S. average (index 52.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $35.86 median hour buys what $42.30 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 Shreveport Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Shreveport, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Shreveport paycheck
- Per year: $64,548
- Per month: $5,379
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Shreveport
| 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 Shreveport
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Shreveport, 0 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christus Shreveport-Bossier Health System Shreveport, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Willis Knighton Medical Center Shreveport, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Ochsner Lsu Health Shreveport Shreveport, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Ochsner Lsu Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | No |
| Overton Brooks Va Medical Center (Shreveport) Shreveport, LA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Specialists Hospital Shreveport Shreveport, LA | Acute care | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Brentwood Hospital Shreveport, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Intensive Specialty Hospital Shreveport, LA | Long-term | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Louisiana Behavioral Health Shreveport, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Physicians Behavioral Hospital Shreveport, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bossier City, LA | 9 mi | $35.86/hr | 63,218 |
| Longview, TX | 57 mi | $36.77/hr | 83,668 |
| Tyler, TX | 89 mi | $36.46/hr | 112,219 |
| Rockwall, TX | 157 mi | $39.25/hr | 53,547 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 160 mi | $36.59/hr | 81,157 |
| Rowlett, TX | 163 mi | $39.25/hr | 68,123 |
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 Shreveport
Shreveport city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Shreveport, LA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area have a median pay of $35.86 per hour, about $74,580 a year. The middle half earn between $31.00 and $38.55 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Shreveport a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Shreveport-Bossier City ranks 38th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 174th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 15% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Shreveport?
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Shreveport, led by Christus Shreveport-Bossier Health System. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Louisiana license to work in Shreveport 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 Shreveport?
The federal per diem benchmark in Shreveport 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 Shreveport?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Shreveport and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Shreveport.
What do employers near Shreveport 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 Shreveport, LA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.