Respiratory Therapy Degree in Knoxville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Knoxville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Knoxville
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Knoxville, TN Overview
While Knoxville has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,300/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 Knoxville is approximately $42,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,792/yr
Private Tuition
$47,660/yr
Room & Board
$10,300/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,344/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Knoxville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Knoxville's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Knoxville adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Knoxville
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Knoxville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,792 | Private avg: $47,660
Knoxville avg aid: $10,344/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,368
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Knoxville
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Knoxville
$306,132
Lifetime earnings premium ($382,500) minus total education cost ($76,368)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Knoxville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Knoxville for Respiratory Therapy
University of Tennessee
public
$13,264/yr
$53,056 total
Pellissippi State Community College
public
$4,320/yr
$17,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pellissippi State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Knoxville
Knoxville offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Knoxville Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Knoxville
Pharmacy
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$58K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$43K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$43K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Knoxville — 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 Knoxville.