Respiratory Therapy Degree in Chattanooga, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Chattanooga, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Chattanooga
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Chattanooga, TN Overview
While Chattanooga has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,210/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Chattanooga is approximately $40,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,648/yr
Private Tuition
$39,466/yr
Room & Board
$12,210/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,310/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Chattanooga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Chattanooga adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Chattanooga
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Chattanooga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,648 | Private avg: $39,466
Chattanooga avg aid: $9,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Chattanooga
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chattanooga
$272,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($360,000) minus total education cost ($87,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Chattanooga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chattanooga for Respiratory Therapy
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
public
$9,648/yr
$38,592 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chattanooga State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chattanooga Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Chattanooga
Pharmacy
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$54K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$40K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$40K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Chattanooga — 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 Chattanooga.