Is Louisiana Good for Respiratory Therapy Careers?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, respiratory therapists are in high demand and this trend is expected to continue into the next decade. Above average growth and several job prospects are just a few of the statistics associated with this career, even in the state of Louisiana, making this a good location for those in this profession. This pertains to not only the job prospects of individuals that have obtained their degree, but to salary, location and even their choices in employment settings for example. Those interested in obtaining employment as a respiratory therapist in Kansas can enjoy several different opportunities and options that are commonly available.

Salary Information

Respiratory therapy careers in Louisiana offer a decent salary. As a matter of May 2008, those holding entry-level positions as respiratory therapists earned a median annual salary a little above $49,000 or about $24.00 an hour. However, some of the top earners have salaries above $60,000 per year. However, various factors play a role in the salary that can be earned. One determining factor is the exact location within Louisiana. Those that are employed in the larger cities or underserved rural areas may are often offered more in terms of salary. The specific health care industry will also determine the potential salary as those employed within hospitals and long-term care facilities tend to make the most on an hourly basis.

Salaries from BLS

Job Prospects

Job prospects in Louisiana are excellent and are expected to continue to grow at least through the year 2018. This means that those who have graduated from an accredited program and completed the necessary tasks to become certified and licensed will not have any problem finding employment as more positions are coming available than what can currently be filled. Due to this shortage, therapists will not only have more options in terms of where they will work but can expect greater pay, generous benefits and even sign on bonuses as health care facilities need to hire and retain the services of qualified individuals. Individual job prospects can vary by the education level and specific location in which the person chooses to work.

Employment Settings

Hiring trends indicate that hospitals are expected to hire more respiratory therapists in Louisiana than any other type of health care facility, with long-term care facilities and skilled nursing facilities close behind. However, therapists are not limited to working in these particular health care centers. There are a variety of employment settings that these professionals will have to choose from. This includes but is not limited to the offices of physicians, rehabilitation centers and even in sleep clinics for example. Those that choose to obtain employment within the hospital and other settings may choose to specialize further and work in one particular area, such as neonatal care or focus on cardiopulmonary diseases and illnesses exclusively. This will require additional training and credentials though.