Respiratory Therapy Degree Programs in Greensboro, NC (2026)

Quick answer: Respiratory Therapists in the Greensboro area earn a median $80,090 per year, below the national median of $82,280, and the metro employs about 290 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Respiratory Therapy Pay in Greensboro, NC

MetricGreensboro metroNorth CarolinaNational
Median annual wage$80,090$80,090$82,280
10th percentile$63,790$63,990$63,660
25th percentile$77,070$68,010$74,520
75th percentile$88,560$87,820$98,730
90th percentile$93,440$99,520$118,050
Employment2904,630139,790
Location quotient0.89-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Greensboro-High Point, NC metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Greensboro median of $80,090 is below the national median of $82,280, and level with the North Carolina statewide median of $80,090 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.89 means respiratory therapists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, so the local hospital and critical-care capacity is the market.

Other North Carolina Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Charlotte$82,0201,110
Winston$80,250530
Raleigh$87,820430
Wilmington$81,020200
Asheville$81,550150
Greenville$69,310150
Hickory$78,350130
Fayetteville$80,650110

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies.

See the North Carolina licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Duke University

Durham, NC 49.8 miles away BOC Score 82.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 96.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 863
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $115,722 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Surry Community College

Dobson, NC 53.3 miles away BOC Score 57.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 38
  • Annual completions: 593
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,856 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Forsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, NC 24.8 miles away BOC Score 52.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 31.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 62
  • Annual completions: 2058
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,625 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Montgomery Community College

Troy, NC 50.5 miles away BOC Score 52.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 539
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,824 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Piedmont Community College

Roxboro, NC 52.6 miles away BOC Score 52.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 38.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 257
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $37,251 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Davidson-Davie Community College

Thomasville, NC 25.3 miles away BOC Score 51.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 44.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 46
  • Annual completions: 1662
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,533 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Alamance Community College

Graham, NC 26.3 miles away BOC Score 50.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 1011
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $41,411 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Salisbury, NC 48.1 miles away BOC Score 47.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 32.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 50
  • Annual completions: 2086
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,916 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Rockingham Community College

Wentworth, NC 20.5 miles away BOC Score 43.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 32.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 364
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,278 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Guilford Technical Community College

Jamestown, NC 8.4 miles away BOC Score 35.2
Tuition $2,320 - $20,529
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 31.2%
  • Programs offered: 72
  • Annual completions: 2212
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,924 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in Greensboro?

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area is $80,090, below the national median of $82,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many respiratory therapists work in the Greensboro area?

The Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area employs about 290 respiratory therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do respiratory therapists in Greensboro need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies. Confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.

Can I study respiratory therapy online from Greensboro?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state respiratory care board.

Is Greensboro a better market than the rest of North Carolina?

The Greensboro metro median is $80,090 against a statewide median of $80,090 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.