Respiratory Therapists Salary
Respiratory Therapists in North Carolina make a median of $80,090 a year, or about $38.51 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $86,434 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in North Carolina?
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Respiratory therapists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level respiratory therapists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Respiratory Therapists salary by metro in North Carolina
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $88K | +10% | 430 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $82K | +2% | 1,110 |
| Asheville | $82K | +2% | 150 |
| Wilmington | $81K | +1% | 200 |
| Fayetteville | $81K | +1% | 110 |
| Winston-Salem | $80K | +0% | 530 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $80K | +0% | 290 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $78K | -2% | 130 |
| Rocky Mount | $74K | -8% | 70 |
| Greenville | $69K | -13% | 150 |
| Jacksonville | $55K | -32% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a respiratory therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 25.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for respiratory therapists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new respiratory therapists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,839/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is respiratory therapist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for respiratory therapists?
North Carolina pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do respiratory therapists make in North Carolina?
The median is $80,090 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,990, and experienced respiratory therapists can clear $99,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,094/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 25.2% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $86,434 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.