Quick answer: Respiratory Therapists in the Augusta area earn a median $78,560 per year, below the national median of $82,280, and the metro employs about 350 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Augusta metro | Georgia | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $78,560 | $83,700 | $82,280 |
| 10th percentile | $65,370 | $65,050 | $63,660 |
| 25th percentile | $72,420 | $74,400 | $74,520 |
| 75th percentile | $93,270 | $101,690 | $98,730 |
| 90th percentile | $93,270 | $112,320 | $118,050 |
| Employment | 350 | 5,150 | 139,790 |
| Location quotient | 1.69 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area.
The Augusta median of $78,560 is below the national median of $82,280, and below the Georgia statewide median of $83,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.69 means respiratory therapists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, so the local hospital and critical-care capacity is the market.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $95,520 | 2,670 |
| Savannah | $78,200 | 240 |
| Macon | $80,730 | 180 |
| Columbus | $77,150 | 150 |
| Rome | $98,720 | 120 |
| Valdosta | $67,600 | 100 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies.
See the Georgia licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $78,560, below the national median of $82,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area employs about 350 respiratory therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies. Confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state respiratory care board.
The Augusta metro median is $78,560 against a statewide median of $83,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
