Respiratory Therapy Degree in Long Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Long Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Long Beach
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Long Beach, CA Overview
Long Beach, California (pop. 466,742) has 14 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 116 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,546/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Long Beach is approximately $58,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$4,169/yr
Private Tuition
$9,960/yr
Room & Board
$17,446/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,553/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
60%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Long Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Long Beach's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Long Beach adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Long Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Long Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $4,169 | Private avg: $9,960
Long Beach avg aid: $15,553/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,460
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,400
vs HS diploma in Long Beach
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Long Beach
$435,540
Lifetime earnings premium ($522,000) minus total education cost ($86,460)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Long Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Long Beach for Respiratory Therapy
California State University, Long Beach
public
$6,798/yr
$27,192 total
Long Beach City College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Pacific Coast University School of Law
private
$9,960/yr
$39,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Long Beach City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Long Beach
Long Beach offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Long Beach Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Long Beach
Pharmacy
$58K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$79K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$58K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$58K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Long Beach — 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 Long Beach.