Respiratory Therapists pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,830 or more. The middle half of respiratory therapists in Wilmington earn between $65,730 and $86,950.
- $64K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $87K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,910 | $6,659 | $38.42 |
| Median | $81,020 | $6,752 | $38.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,730 | $5,478 | $31.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,950 | $7,246 | $41.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Respiratory Therapists pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Respiratory therapists in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($81,360) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($87,300). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $82,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $79,910 | $81,020 | $64,490 | $95,830 | 200 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $79,910, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $62,367 a year, or $5,197 a month and $2,399 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for respiratory therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $79,910 buys what about $82,875 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Respiratory Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 7th 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 Wilmington: questions
How much do respiratory therapists make an hour in Wilmington?
$38.42 an hour on average, and $38.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level respiratory therapists salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the respiratory therapists take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $62,367 a year ($5,197 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,910.
Do respiratory therapists earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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