Respiratory Therapy Schools and Salaries NC

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Get Started as a Respiratory Therapist in NC

A career as a respiratory therapist in North Carolina offers good income potential and jobs growth. In fact the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that demand for respiratory therapists will increase by 19% betw5
een 2019 to 2029.

To become a respiratory therapist in North Carolina it is a requirement that you graduate from an accredited respiratory therapist school. Once you have graduated you will then need to apply for a license before you can begin working. Certification is not a necessity but it does provide additional assurances as to your skills and competencies.

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Respiratory Therapist Schools in NC

SchoolAreaDegreeLearn More
Carteret Community CollegeMorehead CityAAS DegreeLearn More
Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickoryAAS DegreeLearn More
Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotteAAS DegreeLearn More
Durham Technical Community CollegeDurhamAS DegreeLearn More
Edgecombe Community CollegeRocky MountAAS DegreeLearn More
Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayettevilleAS DegreeLearn More
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-SalemAAS DegreeLearn More
Pitt Community CollegeWintervilleAAS DegreeLearn More
Robeson Community CollegeLumbertonAAS Degree*
Rockingham Community CollegeWentworthAS DegreeLearn More
Sandhills Community CollegePinehurstAS DegreeLearn More
Southwestern Community CollegeSylvaAS DegreeLearn More
Stanly Community CollegeLocustAS DegreeLearn More
Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboroAAS DegreeLearn More

The Commission on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC) is the organization in charge of accreditation for respiratory therapist schools.

There are 14 accredited respiratory therapy schools in North Carolina.

You have the option of completing an associates degree (2 years) or a bachelors degree (4 years) in your path to becoming a respiratory therapist . An associates degree will get you started in your career whilst a bachelors degree will open up more career doors such as supervisory and management roles.

Learn more: Respiratory therapist course curriculum and admissions

North Carolina Respiratory License and Certification Requirements

Respiratory therapist certification is optional in North Carolina. However licensing is an important prerequisite to securing employment as a respiratory therapist in the state.

The North Carolina Respiratory Care Board governs the licensing of respiratory therapists in North Carolina. You can contact the Board directly using the details below:

Phone: 919-878-5595
Website: ncrcb.org

Learn more: Steps to become a respiratory therapist


Respiratory Therapist Salary NC

Average Salary$57,700
Hourly Wage$27.74
Top 10%$75,120
Bottom 10%$43,700
Employed4240

The average respiratory therapist salary in North Carolina is $57,700 – 10% less than the national average.*

*Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2019).

This equates to an average hourly wage of $27.74.

Salary levels for respiratory therapists in North Carolina have grown by 8%, or $4,400, between 2015 and 2019.

Salary Range

  • The top 10% of earners in the profession in North Carolina had an average salary of $75,120
  • The lower 10% and entry level respiratory therapists earned an average salary of $43,700
  • Respiratory therapists working in Durham-Chapel Hill earned the highest average salary in the state at $61,440
  • Those working in Greenville have the lowest average salary level at $51,680.
Metro AreaSalaryTop 10%Bottom 10%Employed
Asheville$55,750$74,140$42,520240
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$58,710$76,190$44,5601,170
Durham-Chapel Hill$61,440$79,110$46,700410
Fayetteville$56,990$74,660$44,180130
Greensboro-High Point$58,690$74,830$44,450280
Greenville$51,680$67,180$40,810140
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton$54,820$71,030$42,230130
New Bern$52,770$71,860$41,85030
Raleigh$60,780$76,640$47,470310
Wilmington$55,330$74,980$41,460130
Winston-Salem$58,210$75,000$44,320480

Respiratory Therapist Employment in North Carolina

There are currently 4240 people employed as respiratory therapists in North Carolina. This number has increased by 9%, or 350 respiratory therapy jobs, between 2015 and 2019.

The highest number of respiratory therapy jobs in North Carolina are in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia.

The table below compares respiratory therapy salary and employment with similar healthcare careers in North Carolina;

CareerSalaryEmployment
Respiratory Therapist$57,7004,240
Physical Therapist$88,0206,310
Occupational Therapist$82,4803,530
Speech & Language Therapist$74,9104,450


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