Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in Alexandria, LA make a median of $71,140 a year, or about $34.2 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.69), which stretches that salary to about $83,020 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $994/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K get you in Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (85.69). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About respiratory therapists
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What this looks like in Alexandria
Pay for respiratory therapists in Alexandria runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $82K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $994/month, 21.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.69 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alexandria can be a reasonable trade-off for respiratory therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for respiratory therapists in metros near Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $77K | $83K |
| Baton Rouge | $74K | $82K |
| Lafayette | $76K | $87K |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $74K | $87K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alexandria, LA
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Respiratory Therapists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $112K | +36% | 430 |
| New York | $108K | +31% | 7,010 |
| California | $105K | +27% | 18,650 |
| Massachusetts | $102K | +24% | 2,220 |
| Washington | $101K | +23% | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | $101K | +23% | 3,350 |
| Oregon | $101K | +22% | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +20% | 1,250 |
| Alaska | $98K | +19% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $96K | +17% | 360 |
| Hawaii | $94K | +14% | 510 |
| Delaware | $91K | +11% | 500 |
| Maryland | $89K | +8% | 1,800 |
| Rhode Island | $87K | +6% | 260 |
| Colorado | $86K | +5% | 2,110 |
| Nevada | $85K | +4% | 1,270 |
| Connecticut | $85K | +4% | 1,370 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | +2% | 1,940 |
| Illinois | $84K | +2% | 4,880 |
| Vermont | $84K | +2% | 210 |
| Georgia | $84K | +2% | 5,150 |
| Virginia | $83K | +1% | 3,340 |
| Maine | $82K | +0% | 520 |
| Nebraska | $82K | -1% | 840 |
| North Dakota | $81K | -1% | 270 |
| Montana | $81K | -1% | 390 |
| Florida | $81K | -1% | 8,820 |
| Utah | $81K | -2% | 1,170 |
| North Carolina | $80K | -3% | 4,630 |
| Ohio | $80K | -3% | 6,640 |
| Michigan | $80K | -3% | 4,520 |
| Arizona | $80K | -3% | 3,500 |
| Indiana | $80K | -3% | 3,170 |
| Texas | $80K | -3% | 12,130 |
| Wyoming | $79K | -4% | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $79K | -4% | 2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | -5% | 6,530 |
| Idaho | $78K | -5% | 820 |
| Missouri | $78K | -5% | 3,030 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -6% | 1,960 |
| Kansas | $77K | -6% | 1,450 |
| Louisiana | $75K | -9% | 2,520 |
| Iowa | $75K | -9% | 910 |
| Arkansas | $74K | -10% | 1,400 |
| Kentucky | $73K | -12% | 2,530 |
| Tennessee | $72K | -12% | 3,440 |
| New Mexico | $69K | -16% | 840 |
| West Virginia | $69K | -17% | 1,140 |
| South Dakota | $68K | -17% | 430 |
| Alabama | $66K | -20% | 2,350 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -23% | 1,670 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track respiratory therapists salary changes
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Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 21.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $994/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,551/month. At HUD’s $994/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is respiratory therapist a high-paying job in Alexandria?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $71K here vs. $82K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alexandria compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
Alexandria pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.69), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in Alexandria, LA?
The median is $71,140 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,180, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $82,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,666/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $994/month, which eats 21.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a respiratory therapists salary go in Alexandria?
Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 85.69 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median respiratory therapists salary is worth about $83,020 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do respiratory therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.