Respiratory Therapy Degree in Mobile, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Mobile, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Mobile
Cost of Living
98
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Mobile, AL Overview
Mobile, Alabama (pop. 187,041) has 12 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 98 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,083/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Mobile is approximately $49,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,100/yr
Private Tuition
$41,360/yr
Room & Board
$13,457/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,004/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
73%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Mobile (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mobile's cost of living index of 98 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Mobile adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Mobile
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Mobile tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,100 | Private avg: $41,360
Mobile avg aid: $12,004/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,228
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,700
vs HS diploma in Mobile
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mobile
$342,772
Lifetime earnings premium ($441,000) minus total education cost ($98,228)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Mobile
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mobile for Respiratory Therapy
University of South Alabama
public
$11,100/yr
$44,400 total
Spring Hill College
private
$41,360/yr
$165,440 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bishop State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Mobile
Mobile offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mobile Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$49K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Birmingham, AL
$44K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$46K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$39K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$48K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$52K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$41K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Mobile
Pharmacy
$49K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$67K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$49K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$49K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Mobile — 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 Mobile.