North Carolina Median
$80,090
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $82,280
State Rank
#29 of 51
4,630 employed here
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in North Carolina?
A Respiratory Therapist working in North Carolina earns a median salary of $80,090 per year, or about $38.50 per hour. That is 3% below the national median of $82,280 for this occupation.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $63,990 while the top 10% make $99,520 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $68,010 and $87,820 a year.
Respiratory Therapist salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,990 | $30.76 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $68,010 | $32.70 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $80,090 | $38.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $87,820 | $42.22 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,520 | $47.85 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories for Respiratory Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Respiratory Therapist salary in other states
District of Columbia $111,950New York $107,810California $104,820Massachusetts $102,170Washington $101,130New Jersey $100,810Oregon $100,560Minnesota $98,710Alaska $97,950New Hampshire $95,940Hawaii $94,210Delaware $91,080Maryland $88,960Rhode Island $86,900Colorado $86,220Nevada $85,480Connecticut $85,230Wisconsin $84,210Illinois $84,090Vermont $83,820Georgia $83,700Virginia $82,910Maine $82,470Nebraska $81,590North Dakota $81,230Montana $81,190Florida $81,160Utah $80,650Ohio $79,920Michigan $79,850Arizona $79,780Indiana $79,730Texas $79,540Wyoming $79,330Oklahoma $78,800Pennsylvania $78,490Idaho $78,460Missouri $78,390South Carolina $77,740Kansas $76,970Louisiana $75,240Iowa $74,760Arkansas $73,870Kentucky $72,750Tennessee $72,140New Mexico $68,870West Virginia $68,670South Dakota $68,240Alabama $66,150Mississippi $63,270
Working as a Respiratory Therapist in North Carolina
Nationally, about 140,000 people work as Respiratory Therapists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($80,090) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Respiratory Therapist make in North Carolina?
The median Respiratory Therapist salary in North Carolina is $80,090 per year, or about $38.50 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $63,990 at the entry level to $99,520 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Respiratory Therapists about 3% less than the national median of $82,280. North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Respiratory Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $80,090 a year. About 4,630 Respiratory Therapists are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Respiratory Therapist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.