Respiratory Therapist salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Respiratory Therapists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $87,820 a year ($42.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $108,150 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $82,280. Pay here is 10% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $80,090. There are 0.57 respiratory therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $85,910, close to the median.
Pay range for respiratory therapists in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,420 | $32.41 |
| 25th percentile | $72,120 | $34.67 |
| Median | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| 75th percentile | $92,080 | $44.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,150 | $51.99 |
| Average (mean) | $85,910 | $41.30 |
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 | $7,318.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,659.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,377.69 |
| Weekly | $1,688.85 |
| Hourly | $42.22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,020 | 1,110 |
| Asheville, NC | $81,550 | 150 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,830 | $40.78 |
| Pharmacist | $133,120 | $64.00 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,150 | $61.61 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Physician Assistant | $124,300 | $59.76 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,900 | $48.03 |
| Physicians, All Other | $354,130 | $170.26 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Dentists, General | $207,380 | $99.70 |
| Occupational Therapist | $84,080 | $40.42 |
| Veterinarian | $130,350 | $62.67 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $291,060 | $139.93 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $69,210 | $33.27 |
| Optometrist | $163,290 | $78.51 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for respiratory therapists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $87,820 a year, or $42.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $108,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid respiratory therapists make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of respiratory therapists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $108,150 a year. The top 25% earn $92,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for respiratory therapists in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,420 a year, and a quarter of respiratory therapists earn $72,120 or less.
How many respiratory therapists work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 430 respiratory therapists are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.