Respiratory Therapy Degree in Metairie, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Metairie, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Metairie
Cost of Living
89.4
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Metairie, LA Overview
Metairie, Louisiana (pop. 138,481) has 6 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 89.4 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $645/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Metairie is approximately $44,700.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,366/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,835/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Metairie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Metairie's cost of living index of 89.4 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Metairie adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Metairie
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Metairie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $28,000
Metairie avg aid: $14,835/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,664
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,410
vs HS diploma in Metairie
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Metairie
$309,636
Lifetime earnings premium ($402,300) minus total education cost ($92,664)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Metairie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Metairie for Respiratory Therapy
Metairie State University
public
$8,983/yr
$35,932 total
University of Metairie
public
$10,583/yr
$42,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metairie Community College
$4,982/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Metairie
Metairie offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Metairie Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Metairie
Pharmacy
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$61K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$45K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$45K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Metairie — 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 Metairie.