PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Registered Respiratory Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Ringgold, GA
$27.97–$41.60/ hour
Respiratory Therapist jobs in Columbus, GA
Respiratory Therapists in the Columbus area earn a median of $35.68 per hour, about $74,210 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $30.62 and $39.64. That ranks 178th of 270 U.S. metro areas for respiratory therapist pay, and 102nd of 248 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Columbus. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Columbus.
- $35.68median pay per hour, Columbus
- $31–$40typical range per hour
- 150respiratory therapists employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Respiratory Therapist pay in Columbus, GA
The metro median is 9% below the Georgia statewide median of $39.37 per hour. Nationally the median is $38.68 per hour. BLS counts about 150 respiratory therapists employed in the Columbus metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.50).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.21 | $60,760 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.62 | $63,690 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Median | $35.68 | $74,210 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $39.64 | $82,450 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $39.91 | $83,010 | 3% above U.S. median |
How Columbus ranks
- 178th of 270 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 102nd of 248 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Columbus
- Overall prices in Columbus run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 39% below the U.S. average (index 61.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $35.68 median hour buys what $39.96 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Columbus Respiratory Therapist pay report
Named employers near Columbus, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Columbus paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,284
- Per year: $64,224
- Per month: $5,352
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbus metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Columbus
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Columbus as they open.
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Respiratory Therapist roles for you in Georgia
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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Hospitals in Columbus
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbus, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of respiratory therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside Columbus, GA | Acute care | For-profit | 5 of 5 | No |
| St Francis Hospital- Emory Healthcare Columbus, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | No |
| Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Columbus, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| West Central Georgia Regional Hospital Columbus, GA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins, GA | 71 mi | $32.91/hr | 86,199 |
| Macon, GA | 72 mi | $37.22/hr | 157,056 |
| Albany, GA | 76 mi | $41.76/hr | 66,705 |
| South Fulton, GA | 80 mi | $42.73/hr | 112,003 |
| Montgomery, AL | 82 mi | $35.65/hr | 195,818 |
| Atlanta, GA | 90 mi | $42.73/hr | 520,070 |
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 Columbus
Columbus city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do respiratory therapists make in Columbus, GA?
Respiratory Therapists in the Columbus metro area have a median pay of $35.68 per hour, about $74,210 a year. The middle half earn between $30.62 and $39.64 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbus a good place for respiratory therapists once cost of living is counted?
Columbus ranks 102nd of 248 metro areas for respiratory therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 178th of 270 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do respiratory therapists work in Columbus?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbus, led by Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Georgia license to work in Columbus 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 Columbus?
The federal per diem benchmark in Columbus is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place respiratory therapists in Columbus?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbus and across Georgia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbus.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Columbus 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 Georgia, 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 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.