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Respiratory therapist salary in Georgia

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$83,700median pay per year in Georgia, or $40.24 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $65,050lowest 10% earn less
  2. $74,40025th percentile
  3. $83,700median
  4. $101,69075th percentile
  5. $112,320top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $82,280[3]

The median pay for respiratory therapists in Georgia was $83,700 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $1,420 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in GA
5,150[4]
Rank by median pay
21 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+1.7%[6]

How much do respiratory therapists make in Georgia?

Half of the respiratory therapists in Georgia earned more than $83,700 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $40.24 an hour[1]. The average was a little higher, at $88,340 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $82,280[3], so Georgia sat 1.7% above it[6]. Georgia had the 21st highest median among the 50 states and DC[5]. The median for all jobs in the state was $48,170[8], so respiratory therapists earned $35,530 more[9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $65,050[2]. At the high end, the top 10% earned more than $112,320[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $74,400 and $101,690[2].

By metro area, Rome, GA had the highest median, at $98,720[10]. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA had a median of $95,520 and 2,670 jobs[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Georgia vs US pay

Pay for respiratory therapists in Georgia next to the national figures[1][3].

GAUS
Median per year$83,700[1]$82,280[3]
Median per hour$40.24[1]$39.56[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$65,050[2]$63,660[13]
Top 10% earn more than$112,320[2]$118,050[13]
Jobs5,150[4]139,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Georgia

Metro areas in Georgia with the most jobs for respiratory therapists, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA[11]$95,5202,670
Chattanooga, TN-GA$74,350370
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC$78,560350
Savannah, GA$78,200240
Macon-Bibb County, GA$80,730180
Columbus, GA-AL$77,150150
Rome, GA$98,720120
Valdosta, GA$67,600100

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for respiratory therapists in the states that border Georgia, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Florida[14]$81,1608,820
North Carolina$80,0904,630
South Carolina$77,7401,960
Tennessee$72,1403,440
Alabama$66,1502,350

Median pay for respiratory therapists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for respiratory therapists are projected to grow 8.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a respiratory therapist make in Georgia?
The median was $83,700 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $88,340 a year[7].
How much does a respiratory therapist make an hour in Georgia?
The median was $40.24 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31.28 an hour and the top 10% earned more than $54.00[17][2].
Which city in Georgia pays respiratory therapists the most?
Rome, GA had the highest median annual wage, at $98,720[10]. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA was next among the larger metros listed, at $95,520[11].
Is Georgia a good state for respiratory therapists?
Georgia had the 21st highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 1.7% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a respiratory therapist in Georgia?
This is a US figure, not a Georgia one. Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia was $83,700 per year and $40.24 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia: 10th percentile $65,050, 25th percentile $74,400, 75th percentile $101,690, 90th percentile $112,320. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Respiratory Therapists in the US as a whole was $82,280 per year and $39.56 per hour, with about 139,790 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,150 people worked as Respiratory Therapists in Georgia (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Georgia had the 21st highest median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia ($83,700) was $1,420 (1.7%) higher than the US median ($82,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia was $88,340 per year and $42.47 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Georgia was $48,170. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia was $35,530 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($48,170). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 11 metro areas in or partly in Georgia with a published median for Respiratory Therapists, Rome, GA had the highest median annual wage, $98,720. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Respiratory Therapists in the US: 10th percentile $63,660, 25th percentile $74,520, 75th percentile $98,730, 90th percentile $118,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Respiratory Therapists in states that border Georgia (highest first): Florida $81,160; North Carolina $80,090; South Carolina $77,740; Tennessee $72,140; Alabama $66,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Respiratory Therapists is projected to grow 8.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,600 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Respiratory Therapists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia: 10th percentile $31.28, 25th percentile $35.77, 75th percentile $48.89, 90th percentile $54.00. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Georgia. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.