As a Respiratory Therapist in the state of North Carolina, you are fortunate to have multiple options when it comes to assessing your salary. You could choose to look at national or statewide averages for Respiratory Therapists, but this is not the most accurate approach. We’ve done the research to find out what each city in your state is paying their Respiratory Therapists on average so you can make an informed decision on where your next job should be.
Introduction
Respiratory therapist salary by state
22,87022,87095,54095,540
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $95,540 |
| Alaska | $78,760 |
| New York | $78,610 |
| District of Columbia | $77,810 |
| Washington | $77,730 |
| Hawaii | $77,600 |
| Massachusetts | $77,600 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 |
| Oregon | $76,920 |
| Nevada | $76,600 |
| Maryland | $75,000 |
| Minnesota | $75,000 |
| Connecticut | $74,980 |
| Delaware | $74,970 |
| New Hampshire | $74,660 |
| Wisconsin | $63,110 |
| Colorado | $62,220 |
| Rhode Island | $62,220 |
| Texas | $61,940 |
| Virginia | $61,940 |
| Utah | $61,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,620 |
| New Mexico | $61,530 |
| Wyoming | $61,370 |
| Montana | $61,280 |
| Ohio | $61,170 |
| Illinois | $61,160 |
| Michigan | $61,100 |
| Vermont | $60,950 |
| Arizona | $60,850 |
| Nebraska | $60,850 |
| Maine | $60,580 |
| North Dakota | $60,580 |
| Idaho | $60,570 |
| Florida | $60,530 |
| Indiana | $60,450 |
| South Carolina | $60,450 |
| North Carolina | $60,360 |
| Oklahoma | $60,120 |
| Georgia | $60,110 |
| Missouri | $60,040 |
| Kansas | $60,020 |
| Louisiana | $59,930 |
| Iowa | $59,640 |
| West Virginia | $59,110 |
| Arkansas | $58,980 |
| Tennessee | $58,760 |
| South Dakota | $56,960 |
| Kentucky | $52,800 |
| Alabama | $48,450 |
| Mississippi | $48,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,870 |
How much does a Respiratory Therapist earn?
Respiratory therapy is part of the booming healthcare industry, which, as of 2012, was responsible for 18 percent of the total U.S. gross national product, according to a Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce report. What’s more, the Center estimates that because of the increasing demand for healthcare services, the demand for healthcare workers is expected to grow twice as fast as for other industries.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, an average yearly salary for a respiratory therapist is as follows: Less than one year of work experience earns from $29,087 – $55,652 per year; one to four years receives from $24,850 – $59,507 per year; five to nine years receives from $35,802 – $70,472 per year; 10 to 19 years earns from $30,161 – $71,247 per year; 20+ years of experience receives from $44,557 – $71,011 per year. The highest paid in the respiratory therapist profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, California, and Sacramento, California. The Vallejo, California area also pays well, as does the city of San Jose, California. Other well paying areas are Hawaii $66,890; Connecticut $73,670; Nevada $67,270; New Jersey $71,610; and New York, $69,730.
According to the BLS, an average hourly wage and yearly salary earned by the lowest 10th percentile of respiratory therapists is around $19.55 per hour, or $40,660 per year, whereas those in the 90th percentile received $35.77 per hour or $74,400 per year. Respiratory therapists’ employed in colleges, universities, and professional schools earned a higher annual salary ($67,060) when compared to those employed in rental consumer goods ($40,660).
The average salary for a respiratory therapist in North Carolina is $55,000.
This is a pretty decent amount of money. But it’s not just the salary that makes this job worth it—there are a lot of other benefits to working as a respiratory therapist.
First, you get to work with people who are sick and need your help. That can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, especially if you’re used to working with people who are healthy and happy all the time.
Second, you get to make an immediate impact on peoples’ lives. People who have asthma or COPD often feel like they can’t breathe when they’re stressed out or anxious about something else going on in their lives. But when you come into their hospital room and start doing your job as a respiratory therapist, many times those patients will immediately feel better because they know someone cares about them and is there specifically to help them breathe better.
Thirdly, this job offers excellent growth potential—you’ll be able to move up through the ranks at your company or even start your own business in this field!
Conclusion
The respiratory therapist salary for those in this field is decent, with the highest earners being able to pull in over $100,000 annually. The growth of the industry is slower than many careers, but it continues to expand despite declining numbers of smokers as customers. The future looks bright for anyone wishing to enter into this field, and if you are looking for a good career with a stable outlook, you can’t go wrong by choosing to become a respiratory therapist.
