Respiratory Therapists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,670 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Charleston earn between $74,730 and $90,670.
- $60K10th
- $75K25th
- $79KMedian
- $91K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,270 | $6,772 | $39.07 |
| Median | $79,410 | $6,618 | $38.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,730 | $6,228 | $35.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $90,670 | $7,556 | $43.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Charleston earn 6% more than the South Carolina average ($76,490) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $81,270 | $79,410 | $60,020 | $90,670 | 390 |
| South Carolina | $76,490 | $77,740 | $63,700 | $90,670 | 1,960 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $81,270, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $62,931 a year, or $5,244 a month and $2,420 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 Charleston a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $81,270 buys what about $80,496 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$81,270
- Greenville$76,390
- Columbia$75,320
- Myrtle Beach$74,290
- Florence$73,100
- Spartanburg$72,950
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 Charleston: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Charleston?
$39.07 an hour on average, and $38.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $62,931 a year ($5,244 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,270.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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