Respiratory Therapy Degree in Lee's Summit, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Lee's Summit, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
95.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Lee's Summit, MO Overview
While Lee's Summit has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,180/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 Lee's Summit is approximately $47,750.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,180/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,461/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Lee's Summit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lee's Summit's cost of living index of 95.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Lee's Summit adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Lee's Summit
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Lee's Summit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
Lee's Summit avg aid: $8,461/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,520
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,325
vs HS diploma in Lee's Summit
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lee's Summit
$332,230
Lifetime earnings premium ($429,750) minus total education cost ($97,520)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Lee's Summit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lee's Summit for Respiratory Therapy
Lee's Summit State University
public
$9,311/yr
$37,244 total
University of Lee's Summit
public
$11,299/yr
$45,196 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lee's Summit Community College
$5,472/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lee's Summit Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$49K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$42K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Lee's Summit
Pharmacy
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$65K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$48K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$48K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Lee's Summit — 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 Lee's Summit.