Respiratory Therapy Degree in Cleveland, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Cleveland, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Cleveland
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Cleveland, OH Overview
Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 372,624) has 20 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,156/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Cleveland is approximately $48,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$11,270/yr
Private Tuition
$49,395/yr
Room & Board
$10,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,310/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
69%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Cleveland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cleveland's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Cleveland adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Cleveland
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Cleveland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,270 | Private avg: $49,395
Cleveland avg aid: $7,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,656
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,400
vs HS diploma in Cleveland
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cleveland
$345,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($432,000) minus total education cost ($86,656)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Cleveland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cleveland for Respiratory Therapy
Case Western Reserve University
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Cleveland State University
public
$11,270/yr
$45,080 total
John Carroll University
private
$42,310/yr
$169,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cuyahoga Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Cleveland
Cleveland offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cleveland Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$52K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$53K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Cleveland
Pharmacy
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$65K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$48K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$48K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Cleveland — 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 Cleveland.