What does a Respiratory Therapist salary really buy you in Louisiana?
Louisiana is 9.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Louisiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.6, meaning prices are 9.4% lower the national average. A Respiratory Therapist earning $70,140 in Louisiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $77,417 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $59,760 | $65,960 | +$6,200 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $63,860 | $70,485 | +$6,625 |
| Median (P50) | $70,140 | $77,417 | +$7,277 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $78,590 | $86,743 | +$8,153 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $84,540 | $93,311 | +$8,771 |
A Respiratory Therapist in Louisiana earns $70,140 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $77,417 in an average-cost state. This makes Louisiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Respiratory Therapist salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Louisiana ranks #43 out of 50 states for Respiratory Therapist after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Respiratory Therapist in Louisiana earns a median salary of $70,140 per year. After adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (RPP=90.6), the real purchasing power is $77,417 — a +10.4% difference.
Louisiana's cost of living is 9.4% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Louisiana is 90.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Respiratory Therapist in Louisiana: $70,140 x (100 / 90.6) = $77,417. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Respiratory Therapist in Louisiana enjoys 10.4% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.