Respiratory Therapy Degree in Fishers, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Fishers, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Fishers
Cost of Living
100.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Fishers, IN Overview
While Fishers has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,412/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 Fishers is approximately $50,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,412/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,245/yr
Unemployment
3.9%
Graduation Rate
64%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Fishers (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fishers's cost of living index of 100.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Fishers adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Fishers
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Fishers tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $34,000
Fishers avg aid: $15,245/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,448
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,075
vs HS diploma in Fishers
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fishers
$357,802
Lifetime earnings premium ($452,250) minus total education cost ($94,448)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Fishers
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fishers for Respiratory Therapy
Fishers State University
public
$9,242/yr
$36,968 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fishers Community College
$5,903/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Fishers
Fishers offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fishers Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$47K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$52K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
Evansville, IN
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
South Bend, IN
$45K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$53K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$42K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$47K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$42K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Fishers
Pharmacy
$50K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$68K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$50K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$50K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$50K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$50K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Fishers — 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 Fishers.