Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders including asthma and COPD. Median salary in Athens: $66K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Athens, Georgia. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Respiratory Therapists in Athens earn approximately 8% lower than the US national median for this role — a $6,000 discount on annual base salary. Athens's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 92 (US avg = 100).
Average 1-bedroom rent in Athens ($1,200/mo) consumes approximately 34% of an after-tax median Respiratory Therapist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($83K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Only 5% of Respiratory Therapist positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Athens salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $66K by 2030.
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The median Respiratory Therapist salary in Athens, GA is $66,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Athens–GA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Respiratory Therapists in Athens with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $53,000 and $66,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $66,000 to $83,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $83,000 to $103,000 or more.
Athens has a cost of living index of 92 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 8% further in Athens than the national average. Georgia has a 5.75% state income tax rate.
Associate's or Bachelor's in Respiratory Therapy; RRT credential. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.