Respiratory Therapy Degree in Macon, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Macon, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Macon
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Macon, GA Overview
Macon, Georgia (pop. 157,346) has 13 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 101 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,007/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Macon is approximately $50,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,056/yr
Private Tuition
$40,560/yr
Room & Board
$11,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,538/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Macon (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Macon's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Macon adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Macon
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Macon tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,056 | Private avg: $40,560
Macon avg aid: $10,538/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,156
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,150
vs HS diploma in Macon
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Macon
$363,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($454,500) minus total education cost ($91,156)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Macon
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Macon for Respiratory Therapy
Mercer University
private
$40,560/yr
$162,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Central Georgia Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Macon
Macon offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Macon Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$42K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Macon
Pharmacy
$51K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$69K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$51K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$51K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Macon — 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 Macon.