Respiratory Therapists pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,450 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Charlotte earn between $78,380 and $98,270.
- $65K10th
- $78K25th
- $82KMedian
- $98K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,480 | $7,123 | $41.10 |
| Median | $82,020 | $6,835 | $39.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,380 | $6,532 | $37.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,270 | $8,189 | $47.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Charlotte earn 5% 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 -0% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $85,480 | $82,020 | $65,170 | $100,450 | 1,110 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $85,480, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $66,063 a year, or $5,505 a month and $2,541 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $66,063 | $5,505 |
| Working in SC | $65,613 | $5,468 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $85,480 buys what about $87,809 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 3rd 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 Charlotte: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Charlotte?
$41.10 an hour on average, and $39.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $66,063 a year ($5,505 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,480.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Charlotte 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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