Respiratory Therapist
Listed compensation
$23.5-$38.9/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
A great healthcare system near Lake Charles, LA is seeking a full-time Respiratory Therapist to join its team! The details are below.
Pay: $23.50-$38.90/hour (based on experience)
Respiratory Therapist Opportunity
Full-time, direct-hire position
The Respiratory Therapist is responsible for the pulmonary care of critical, non-critical, and chronically ill adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients under the direction of a physician with minimal supervision
Manages ventilators, administers treatments, and conducts diagnostic tests for patients with respiratory or cardiopulmonary conditions
Assesses patient progress and adjust respiratory therapy as needed
Works with healthcare professionals to deliver inhalants and operate respiratory equipment as part of treatment plans
Respiratory Therapist Qualifications
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification required
- RT or RCP license in the state of hire
- 1-3 years of experience as a respiratory therapist preferred
The Surrounding Community
- Offers a mix of southern hospitality, outdoor wetlands, and vibrant entertainment
- Annual festivals featuring parades, cook-offs, dancing, and more
- Plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities with lake-access, premier freshwater and saltwater sports, hunting, fishing, etc.
- Easy access to necessary amenities and not too far from major cities like Houston and New Orleans
Key Responsibilities
The Respiratory Therapist manages ventilators, administers treatments, and conducts diagnostic tests for patients with respiratory or cardiopulmonary conditions. They also assess patient progress and collaborate with healthcare professionals to deliver effective treatment plans.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification and possess an RT or RCP license in the state of hire. One to three years of experience in respiratory therapy is preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Respiratory Therapy Career Context
Ironside Human Resources holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 70/100, 172 active listings.
Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% have no call, 48% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $49k–$81k | Respiratory Therapy median $86k (middle half $78k–$96k)565 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$74k in purchasing power | Louisiana index 88.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Respiratory Therapy listings in Louisiana | 64 active | 4,014 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 40% no call · 48% no weekends40 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | US healthcare professional listings: 24% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Respiratory Therapy listings | 1,265 in the last 30 days | 790 the 30 days before (+60%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Ironside Human Resources | silver tier, 70/100 | Top Employers work-life index172 active listings |
Top Respiratory Therapist Jobs
21 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
21 jobs · 12 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
14 jobs · 12 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Respiratory Therapist II
Olympic Medical Center · Port Angeles, Washington
Respiratory Therapist
Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia
Respiratory Therapist, 36hr Nights
$30.53-$54.96/hrRespiratory Therapist RRT - Full Time - Nights
$33.16-$51.4/hrWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,013 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
Living in Lake Charles
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $211k
- Typical market rent
- $1,329/mo
- Residents’ average commute
- 17 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 85.9
- State income tax
- Up to 4.3%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Lake Charles, LA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.