Respiratory Therapists pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,150 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Raleigh earn between $72,120 and $92,080.
- $67K10th
- $72K25th
- $88KMedian
- $92K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,910 | $7,159 | $41.30 |
| Median | $87,820 | $7,318 | $42.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,120 | $6,010 | $34.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,080 | $7,673 | $44.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Raleigh earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($81,360) and about the same as the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $85,910 | $87,820 | $67,420 | $108,150 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $81,360 | $80,090 | $63,990 | $99,520 | 4,630 |
| United States | $87,300 | $82,280 | $63,660 | $118,050 | 139,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Respiratory Therapists salary after taxes in Raleigh
On the average salary of $85,910, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $66,349 a year, or $5,529 a month and $2,552 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $85,910 buys what about $87,523 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Hickory pays the most ($87,370).
- Hickory$87,370
- Raleigh$85,910
- Charlotte$85,480
- Winston-Salem$81,530
- Greensboro$81,240
- Asheville$80,680
- Wilmington$79,910
- Fayetteville$79,770
- Greenville$77,100
- Rocky Mount$74,020
Highest-paying cities for respiratory therapists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,490).
- San Jose, CA$146,490
- Santa Cruz, CA$133,510
- Vallejo, CA$133,510
- San Francisco, CA$128,490
- Sacramento, CA$124,410
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Respiratory Therapists salary in Raleigh: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Raleigh?
$41.30 an hour on average, and $42.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $66,349 a year ($5,529 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,910.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($87,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1126; area Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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