Respiratory Therapy Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $41,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,300
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$275,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($369,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Respiratory Therapy
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Baton Rouge
Pharmacy
$41K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$56K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$41K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$41K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$41K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Baton Rouge — 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 Baton Rouge.