Respiratory Therapist salary in Asheville, NC
Respiratory Therapists in the Asheville, NC metro area earn a median of $81,550 a year ($39.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,960 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $80,090. There are 0.81 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $80,680, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Asheville, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,620 | $32.03 |
| 25th percentile | $77,510 | $37.26 |
| Median | $81,550 | $39.21 |
| 75th percentile | $81,550 | $39.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,960 | $44.69 |
| Average (mean) | $80,680 | $38.79 |
Half of respiratory therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,795.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,397.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,136.54 |
| Weekly | $1,568.27 |
| Hourly | $39.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Respiratory Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $87,820 | 430 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,020 | 1,110 |
| Wilmington, NC | $81,020 | 200 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $80,990 | 710 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $80,650 | 110 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $80,250 | 530 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $80,090 | 290 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $78,350 | 130 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $73,830 | 70 |
| Greenville, NC | $69,310 | 150 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $54,790 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for respiratory therapists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,950 |
| New York | $107,810 |
| California | $104,820 |
| Massachusetts | $102,170 |
| Washington | $101,130 |
| New Jersey | $100,810 |
| Oregon | $100,560 |
| Minnesota | $98,710 |
| Alaska | $97,950 |
| New Hampshire | $95,940 |
See Respiratory Therapist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Asheville, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,590 | $39.22 |
| Physicians, All Other | $360,010 | $173.08 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,770 | $61.43 |
| Pharmacist | $136,460 | $65.61 |
| Physician Assistant | $131,260 | $63.11 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $225,830 | $108.57 |
| Dental Hygienist | $101,170 | $48.64 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,480 | $47.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $85,040 | $40.89 |
| Occupational Therapist | $83,660 | $40.22 |
| Veterinarian | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $223,630 | $107.51 |
| Dentists, General | $202,630 | $97.42 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,380 | $35.76 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Asheville, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1126. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Asheville, NC?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Asheville, NC metro area is $81,550 a year, or $39.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Asheville, NC?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Asheville, NC metro area earn at least $92,960 a year. The top 25% earn $81,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Asheville, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,620 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $77,510 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Asheville, NC?
About 150 respiratory therapists are employed in the Asheville, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.