Respiratory Therapists Salary in Wilmington, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wilmington, NC

Median annual salary $78,810 -2% vs national
Median hourly $37.89
10th percentile $62,980
90th percentile $83,900
Employed locally 150
National median $80,450

Compare Respiratory Therapists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Wilmington, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Respiratory Therapists
in
Wilmington, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $62,980
    25th
    $70,690
    50th (median)
    $78,810
    75th
    $78,810
    90th
    $83,900

    Wilmington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,687 2023 • Census ACS
    Respiratory Therapists salary vs area income 107% Median Respiratory Therapists salary is 7% 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 Wilmington, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $75,710
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $60,390
    Pharmacy Technicians $37,000
    Physical Therapists $84,800
    Dental Hygienists $91,320
    Physicians, All Other $252,960

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Respiratory Therapists make per hour in Wilmington?

    The median hourly wage for Respiratory Therapists in Wilmington, NC is $37.89, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.07 or more per hour.

    Is Wilmington above or below average for Respiratory Therapists salaries?

    The median Respiratory Therapists salary in Wilmington, NC is 2% 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 Wilmington?

    Entry-level Respiratory Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $62,980 per year in Wilmington, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $70,690.