Respiratory Therapy Degree in Anchorage, AK — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Anchorage, AK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$82K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Anchorage
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Anchorage, AK Overview
Anchorage, Alaska (pop. 291,247) has 18 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,400/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Anchorage is approximately $60,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$8,100/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$19,313/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,634/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
58%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Anchorage (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Anchorage's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Anchorage adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Anchorage
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Anchorage tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,100 | Private avg: $24,000
Anchorage avg aid: $15,634/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,652
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,150
vs HS diploma in Anchorage
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Anchorage
$434,848
Lifetime earnings premium ($544,500) minus total education cost ($109,652)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Anchorage
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Anchorage for Respiratory Therapy
University of Alaska Anchorage
public
$8,100/yr
$32,400 total
Alaska Pacific University
private
$24,000/yr
$96,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
UAA Community Campus
$4,300/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Anchorage
Anchorage offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Anchorage Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Other Healthcare Majors in Anchorage
Pharmacy
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$82K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$61K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Anchorage — 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 Anchorage.