Respiratory Therapy Degree in Aurora, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Aurora, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
92.8
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Aurora, IL Overview
Aurora, Illinois (pop. 180,542) has 7 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 92.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $780/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Aurora is approximately $46,400.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,856/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,682/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
65%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 92.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Aurora avg aid: $14,682/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$117,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,920
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$300,576
Lifetime earnings premium ($417,600) minus total education cost ($117,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Respiratory Therapy
Aurora State University
public
$14,742/yr
$58,968 total
University of Aurora
public
$15,345/yr
$61,380 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Aurora Community College
$5,489/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$55K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Aurora
Pharmacy
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$63K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$46K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Aurora — 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 Aurora.