Respiratory Therapy Degree in Kansas City, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Kansas City, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Kansas City, KS Overview
Kansas City, Kansas (pop. 156,607) has 6 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 82.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $405/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Kansas City is approximately $41,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,267/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,093/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
61%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Kansas City
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Kansas City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Kansas City avg aid: $14,093/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$278,182
Lifetime earnings premium ($371,250) minus total education cost ($93,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for Respiratory Therapy
Kansas City State University
public
$9,282/yr
$37,128 total
University of Kansas City
public
$9,330/yr
$37,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kansas City Community College
$5,644/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Kansas City
Kansas City offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kansas City Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Kansas City
Pharmacy
$41K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$56K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$41K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$41K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$41K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Kansas City — 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 Kansas City.