Respiratory Therapy Degree in Elgin, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Elgin, IL. 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
6.8 yrs
in Elgin
Cost of Living
79
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Elgin, IL Overview
Elgin, Illinois (pop. 114,797) has 13 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 79 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,008/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Elgin is approximately $39,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,014/yr
Private Tuition
$30,900/yr
Room & Board
$9,983/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,897/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
47%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Elgin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elgin's cost of living index of 79 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Elgin adjustment factor: 0.79x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Elgin
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Elgin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,014 | Private avg: $30,900
Elgin avg aid: $15,897/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,850
vs HS diploma in Elgin
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elgin
$275,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($355,500) minus total education cost ($79,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Elgin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elgin for Respiratory Therapy
Judson University
private
$30,900/yr
$123,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elgin Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Elgin
Elgin offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elgin 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
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 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
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 Elgin
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 Elgin — 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 Elgin.