PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Advanced Respiratory Therapist - Pediatric - Duke Life Flight
Duke Health · Durham, NC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Durham, NC
The median respiratory therapist pay in the Durham area is $37.21 per hour ($77,390 a year), with the typical range running from $30.95 to $40.09. That ranks 133rd of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 162nd of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Durham. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Durham.
- $37.21median pay per hour, Durham
- $31–$40typical range per hour
- 450respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Respiratory Therapist roles in Durham
2 more open roles from employers in Durham. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Internal Traveler - Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (Night Shift)
Duke Health · Durham, NC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Respiratory Therapist pay in Durham, NC
The metro median is in line with the North Carolina statewide median of $37.04 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 450 respiratory therapists employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.49).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.85 | $62,090 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.95 | $64,380 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.21 | $77,390 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $40.09 | $83,390 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $46.26 | $96,220 | 20% above U.S. median |
How Durham ranks
- 133rd of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 162nd of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th of 13 North Carolina metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the Durham Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Durham, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Durham
- Overall prices in Durham-Chapel Hill run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.21 median hour buys what $38.14 buys at the national price level, 1% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Durham paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,340
- Per year: $66,978
- Per month: $5,582
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Durham
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $121 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,365 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,745 |
Travel respiratory therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Respiratory Therapist roles in North Carolina
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Durham as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
Advocate Health · Sparta, NC
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Respiratory Therapist, CMC
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in North Carolina
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist CMC
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Respiratory Therapist, AH Pineville
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Respiratory Therapist, AH Pineville
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Respiratory Therapist II, Pineville
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$30.70–$46.05/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Durham
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Durham, 3 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham, NC | Acute care | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Duke University Hospital Durham, NC | Acute care | For-profit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Durham Va Medical Center Durham, NC | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| North Carolina Specialty Hospital Durham, NC | Acute care | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Respiratory Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill, NC | 9 mi | $37.21/hr | 64,028 |
| Cary, NC | 14 mi | $40.18/hr | 182,659 |
| Apex, NC | 17 mi | $40.18/hr | 75,977 |
| Raleigh, NC | 18 mi | $40.18/hr | 499,825 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 22 mi | $40.18/hr | 56,764 |
| Burlington, NC | 33 mi | $39.80/hr | 61,365 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in North Carolina · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in North Carolina
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
North Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Durham
Durham city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Durham, NC?
Respiratory Therapists in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area have a median pay of $37.21 per hour, about $77,390 a year. The middle half earn between $30.95 and $40.09 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Durham a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Durham-Chapel Hill ranks 162nd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 133rd of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Durham?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Durham, led by Duke Regional Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Durham as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Durham?
The federal per diem benchmark in Durham is $121 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,365 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Durham?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Durham and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Durham.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Durham pay respiratory therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
110+ Respiratory Therapist roles in North Carolina, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your North Carolina list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Wake Forest University Baptist Medical CenterWinston-Salem, NC · 2 wage offers$51.69/ hr$51–$53
- Advocate HealthSparta, NC · 9 postings$38.38/ hr$31–$60
- CommonSpirit HealthSacramento, CA · 8 postings$56.70/ hr$47–$71
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 18 postings$54.16/ hr$29–$68
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your North Carolina list
2What they are offering now
Low$31Median$38.38High$46
11 RT postings with published pay in North Carolina, 10 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 11 RT roles
- Respiratory Therapist (RRT)Permanent$30.70–$46.05/ hour
- Registered Respiratory Therapist, CMCPermanent$30.70–$46.05/ hour
+ 9 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.