Respiratory Therapist Salary in Atlanta, GA
Respiratory Therapists in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $95,520 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,694 take-home, or $5,974 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,184
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,922
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,385
- Georgia income tax$4,335
- Take-home pay$71,694
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,610 | $34.43 | $56,114 | $4,676 |
| 25th percentile | $80,690 | $38.79 | $62,030 | $5,169 |
| Median (50th) | $95,520 | $45.92 | $71,694 | $5,974 |
| 75th percentile | $104,780 | $50.38 | $77,727 | $6,477 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,540 | $57.47 | $87,345 | $7,279 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,520 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median respiratory therapist's $71,694 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,652 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Respiratory Therapist jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #2 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $110,490 | $81,081 | $72,032 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $95,520 | $71,694 | $71,652 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,790 | $68,568 | $66,860 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,640 | $75,582 | $66,553 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $80,450 | $65,427 | $66,336 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $84,080 | $67,980 | $65,943 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $87,060 | $65,912 | $63,625 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,760 | $63,156 | $61,129 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: respiratory therapists
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Atlanta, GA?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $95,520 a year, or about $45.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,690 and $104,780.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $95,520 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $71,694 a year ($5,974 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,335 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,652 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #2 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory therapist afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median respiratory therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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