Respiratory Therapy Degree in Cary, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Cary, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Cary
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Cary, NC Overview
Cary, North Carolina (pop. 174,721) has 7 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,335/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Cary is approximately $54,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$9,200/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,364/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,896/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
53%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Cary (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cary's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Cary adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Cary
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Cary tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,200 | Private avg: $34,000
Cary avg aid: $8,896/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,256
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,275
vs HS diploma in Cary
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cary
$389,994
Lifetime earnings premium ($488,250) minus total education cost ($98,256)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Cary
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cary for Respiratory Therapy
Cary State University
public
$8,460/yr
$33,840 total
University of Cary
public
$9,070/yr
$36,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cary Community College
$5,719/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Cary
Cary offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cary Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Cary
Pharmacy
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$74K 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 Cary — 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 Cary.