Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders including asthma and COPD. Median salary in Durham: $78K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Durham, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Respiratory Therapists in Durham earn approximately 8% higher than the US national median for this role — a $6,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Durham's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Durham's cost-of-living index (100), the median Respiratory Therapist salary buys the equivalent of $78,000 in a US-average-cost city. That's $6,000 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Durham ($1,500/mo) consumes approximately 35% of an after-tax median Respiratory Therapist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($97K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $78K by 2030.
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The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Durham, NC is $78,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Durham–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Respiratory Therapists in Durham with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $63,000 and $78,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $78,000 to $97,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $97,000 to $121,000 or more.
Durham has a cost of living index of 100 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Durham are close to the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Associate's or Bachelor's in Respiratory Therapy; RRT credential. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.