Respiratory Therapists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,230 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Charleston earn between $64,850 and $78,130.
- $62K10th
- $65K25th
- $69KMedian
- $78K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,330 | $6,194 | $35.74 |
| Median | $68,670 | $5,722 | $33.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,850 | $5,404 | $31.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,130 | $6,511 | $37.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Charleston earn 3% more than the West Virginia average ($71,970) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $74,330 | $68,670 | $62,480 | $101,230 | 220 |
| West Virginia | $71,970 | $68,670 | $52,940 | $94,280 | 1,140 |
| 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 $74,330, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $58,606 a year, or $4,884 a month and $2,254 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $74,330 buys what about $83,783 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 4 West Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$74,330
- Huntington$71,260
- Weirton$70,190
- Beckley$69,510
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?
$35.73 an hour on average, and $33.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $58,606 a year ($4,884 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,330.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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, WV (16620). 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 2.36, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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