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Respiratory Therapists in Georgia

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Respiratory Therapists in Georgia

Thinking about a career as a Respiratory Therapists in Georgia? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Respiratory Therapists Make in Georgia?

For respiratory therapists working in Georgia, the median annual wage is $81,890 per year (or roughly $39.37/hour).Annual wages span from $63,510 at the 10th percentile to $108,380 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $63,510 $30.53
25th percentile $70,670 $33.98
Median (50th) $81,890 $39.37
75th percentile $97,540 $46.89
90th percentile $108,380 $52.11
Salary ranges for Respiratory Therapists in Georgia

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Georgia nationwide is 1.17, indicating that respiratory therapists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, respiratory therapists earn a median of $128,345 per year ($61.70/hour), below the Georgia median.

Respiratory Therapists earnings in Georgia vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 3,445,190 respiratory therapists nationwide. In Georgia alone, around 5,030 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,700 respiratory therapists.

Respiratory Therapists in Georgia vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Respiratory Therapists

Top Georgia Metros for Respiratory Therapists

These are the Georgia metros with the most respiratory therapists in Georgia.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,660 $88,870
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 310 $74,460
Savannah, GA 230 $76,400
Columbus, GA-AL 150 $74,210
Rome, GA 120 $68,470
Macon-Bibb County, GA 110 $77,410
Valdosta, GA 110 $61,210
Albany, GA 70 $86,870
Athens-Clarke County, GA 70 $78,790
Dalton, GA 60 $77,720
Warner Robins, GA 60 $68,450

Top States for Respiratory Therapists Employment

View the states that employ the most respiratory therapists work.

State Number Employed
California 18,310
Texas 11,860
Florida 8,840
New York 6,780
Ohio 6,460
Pennsylvania 5,850
Illinois 5,450
Georgia 5,030
North Carolina 4,440
Michigan 4,150
Indiana 3,330
Missouri 3,270
New Jersey 3,200
Tennessee 3,070
Arizona 3,070
Virginia 2,960
Kentucky 2,860
Louisiana 2,280
Alabama 2,250
Massachusetts 2,140

Highest-Paying States for Respiratory Therapists

Where respiratory therapists earn the most: respiratory therapists.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $104,240
New York $103,820
California $102,120
New Jersey $98,020
Washington $97,150
Massachusetts $96,940
Oregon $96,130
Hawaii $94,670
Alaska $94,210
Minnesota $88,040

Skills

The most important respiratory therapists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Social Perceptiveness  3.6 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.6 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  4.3 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  4.3 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.9 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.7 / 5
0
5
Psychology  3.4 / 5
0
5
Biology  3.2 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for respiratory therapists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  3.9 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
  • Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.

Work Activities

  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Getting Information
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

  • Allied Health Professions

Careers similar to respiratory therapists include:

Also Known As

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist, Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT), Hospital Respiratory Therapist, Inhalation Therapist, NICU Respiratory Therapist (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Therapist), Oxygen Therapist, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), Respiratory Therapist (RT), Staff Respiratory Therapist, Staff Therapist, Travel Registered Respiratory Therapist (Travel RRT), Travel Respiratory Therapist.

References

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