Respiratory Therapist Jobs in Athens-Clarke County, GA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Athens-Clarke County, the May 2025 median for respiratory therapists is about $81.7K, within 3 percent of the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $73.1K to $90.2K.

Pay

The median is the middle of respiratory therapists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.

Percentile	Metro	GA	U.S.
25th	$73,080	$74,400	$74,520
Median	$81,730	$83,700	$82,280
75th	$90,180	$101,690	$98,730

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

4.3

Metro employment

National growth, 2025 to 2035

8.5%

National openings a year

8.6 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

Who's hiring

Athens Regional Physicians Services, 1 campuses
Landmark Hospital of Athens, 1 campuses
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, 1 campuses
Piedmont Healthcare Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Athens, 1 campuses
St. Mary's Hospital, 1 campuses

Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.

License and training

Every state except Alaska licenses respiratory therapists. Most employers want the NBRC's CRT or RRT credential. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, respiratory therapists

The work

You see your assigned patients, check each ventilator, give treatments, and adjust settings with the physician and the nurse. Codes and rapid responses can interrupt that plan at any hour.

Night shifts are common in hospital work, and weekends rotate. You also teach patients and families how to use oxygen and other equipment at home.

Nearby metros

Atlanta, GA · 62 miles
Macon-Bibb County, GA · 81 miles
Greenville, SC · 84 miles
Augusta-Richmond County, GA · 85 miles

Respiratory Therapists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires respiratory therapists in Athens-Clarke County?

Hospitals hire respiratory therapists in Athens-Clarke County, along with home medical equipment companies. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Athens Regional Physicians Services, Landmark Hospital of Athens, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.

Do I need a license to work as an RT in Georgia?

Almost every state licenses respiratory therapists. Check the Georgia board before you start in Athens-Clarke County.

What should a hospital in Athens-Clarke County weigh when hiring an RT?

Ask about the RRT and ICU experience. Athens-Clarke County has a deeper bench of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Georgia median.