Respiratory Therapists Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $75,310 -6.4% vs national
Median hourly $36.21
10th percentile $61,470
90th percentile $83,840
Employed locally 130
National median $80,450

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Respiratory Therapists
in
Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,470
    25th
    $67,380
    50th (median)
    $75,310
    75th
    $78,490
    90th
    $83,840

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Respiratory Therapists salary vs area income 125% Median Respiratory Therapists salary is 25% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Respiratory Therapists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $137,080
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $134,880
    Vallejo, CA $132,520
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $131,320
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $129,640
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $129,180

    Nearby metros — Respiratory Therapists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $131,320
    Anchorage, AK $100,170
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $99,780
    Raleigh-Cary, NC $83,580
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $83,560
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $83,300

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $77,680
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,310
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,420
    Emergency Medical Technicians $44,340
    Physicians, All Other $313,460
    Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Respiratory Therapists in Hickory, NC is $36.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $60.38 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Respiratory Therapists salaries?

    The median Respiratory Therapists salary in Hickory, NC is 6.4% below the national median of $80,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Respiratory Therapists in Hickory?

    Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $61,470 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $67,380.