Respiratory Therapy Degree in Kenosha, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Kenosha, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Kenosha
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Kenosha, WI Overview
Kenosha, Wisconsin (pop. 99,986) has 8 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 106 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $668/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Kenosha is approximately $53,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$7,620/yr
Private Tuition
$37,840/yr
Room & Board
$12,059/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,562/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Kenosha (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kenosha's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Kenosha adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Kenosha
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Kenosha tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,620 | Private avg: $37,840
Kenosha avg aid: $15,562/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$78,716
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,900
vs HS diploma in Kenosha
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kenosha
$398,284
Lifetime earnings premium ($477,000) minus total education cost ($78,716)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Kenosha
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kenosha for Respiratory Therapy
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
public
$7,620/yr
$30,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Gateway Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Kenosha
Kenosha offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kenosha Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Racine, WI
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Kenosha
Pharmacy
$53K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$72K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$53K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$53K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Kenosha — 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 Kenosha.