Respiratory Therapy Degree in Amarillo, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Amarillo, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Amarillo
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Amarillo, TX Overview
Amarillo, Texas (pop. 200,393) has 14 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,096/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Amarillo is approximately $54,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$9,030/yr
Private Tuition
$43,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,166/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,360/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
66%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Amarillo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Amarillo's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Amarillo adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Amarillo
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Amarillo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,030 | Private avg: $43,100
Amarillo avg aid: $15,360/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,784
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,200
vs HS diploma in Amarillo
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Amarillo
$413,216
Lifetime earnings premium ($486,000) minus total education cost ($72,784)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Amarillo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Amarillo for Respiratory Therapy
West Texas A&M University
public
$9,030/yr
$36,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Amarillo College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Amarillo
Amarillo offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Amarillo Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Amarillo
Pharmacy
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$73K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$54K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$54K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Amarillo — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Respiratory Therapy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Amarillo.