PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Ringgold, GA
$27.97–$41.60/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Athens, GA
Pay for respiratory therapists in the Athens area centers on $37.88 per hour, or about $78,790 a year. The lower quarter earns under $30.82 and the upper quarter over $39.71. That ranks 108th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 79th of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Athens. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Athens.
- $37.88median pay per hour, Athens
- $31–$40typical range per hour
- 70respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Athens, GA
The metro median is 4% below the Georgia statewide median of $39.37 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 70 respiratory therapists employed in the Athens-Clarke County metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.87).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.73 | $63,920 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.82 | $64,110 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.88 | $78,790 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $39.71 | $82,600 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $46.12 | $95,930 | 19% above U.S. median |
How Athens ranks
- 108th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 79th of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 11 Georgia 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.
What your pay buys in Athens
- Overall prices in Athens-Clarke County run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.88 median hour buys what $40.58 buys at the national price level, 5% above 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.
Get the Athens Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Athens, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Athens paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,364
- Per year: $68,184
- Per month: $5,682
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Athens-Clarke County metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Athens
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $136 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,470 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,110 |
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 Georgia
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Athens as they open.
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110+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Georgia
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Hospitals in Athens
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Athens, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center Athens, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | No |
| St Mary's Hospital Athens, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Creek, GA | 48 mi | $42.73/hr | 81,167 |
| Stonecrest, GA | 48 mi | $42.73/hr | 61,015 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 52 mi | $42.73/hr | 67,275 |
| Dunwoody, GA | 54 mi | $42.73/hr | 51,795 |
| Brookhaven, GA | 56 mi | $42.73/hr | 59,370 |
| Roswell, GA | 57 mi | $42.73/hr | 92,227 |
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Georgia · Respiratory Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Georgia
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Georgia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Athens
Athens city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Athens, GA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Athens-Clarke County metro area have a median pay of $37.88 per hour, about $78,790 a year. The middle half earn between $30.82 and $39.71 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Athens a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Athens-Clarke County ranks 79th of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 108th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Athens?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Athens, led by Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Georgia license to work in Athens as a respiratory therapist?
RRT or CRT credential from NBRC. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia 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 Athens?
The federal per diem benchmark in Athens is $136 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,470 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Athens?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Athens and across Georgia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Athens.
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What do employers near Athens 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
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110+ Respiratory Therapist roles in Georgia, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RT pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Georgia list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Emory Healthcare, Inc.Johns Creek, GA · 1 wage offer$45.54/ hr$46–$46
- Emory Healthcare, Inc.Decatur, GA · 1 wage offer$36.00/ hr$36–$36
- 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 Georgia list
2What they are offering now
Low$29Median$41.44High$58
396 RT postings with published pay in the US, 319 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 RT roles
- Registered Respiratory TherapistPermanent$27.97–$41.60/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.