Respiratory Therapy Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Treatment and management of patients with breathing disorders and cardiopulmonary conditions.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$68K
salary
ROI Payback
3 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
1.5%
rate
Respiratory Therapy Overview
Treatment and management of patients with breathing disorders and cardiopulmonary conditions.
Category
Healthcare
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
80%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
5%
Lifetime Premium
$450K
Female Graduates
60%
Respiratory Therapy Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$13,500
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$13,500
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$436,500
Lifetime earnings premium ($450,000) minus net degree cost ($13,500)
Respiratory Therapy Salary Progression
Common Respiratory Therapy Careers
Respiratory Therapist
Pulmonary Function Technologist
Critical Care RT
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Respiratory Therapy
#1
University of Missouri
#2
Boise State
#3
Georgia State
#4
University of Texas Health
#5
Rush University
Related Majors
Respiratory Therapy Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Respiratory Therapy Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for respiratory therapy programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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