Respiratory Therapy Degree in Greensboro, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Greensboro, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Greensboro
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Greensboro, NC Overview
Greensboro, North Carolina (pop. 299,035) has 17 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $945/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Greensboro is approximately $45,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$7,000/yr
Private Tuition
$35,007/yr
Room & Board
$11,140/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,503/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
71%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Greensboro (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Greensboro's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Greensboro adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Greensboro
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Greensboro tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,000 | Private avg: $35,007
Greensboro avg aid: $14,503/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,560
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,650
vs HS diploma in Greensboro
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Greensboro
$336,940
Lifetime earnings premium ($409,500) minus total education cost ($72,560)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Greensboro
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Greensboro for Respiratory Therapy
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
public
$7,337/yr
$29,348 total
North Carolina A&T State University
public
$6,662/yr
$26,648 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Guilford Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Greensboro
Greensboro offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Greensboro 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
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
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Greensboro
Pharmacy
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$62K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$46K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Greensboro — 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 Greensboro.