Respiratory Therapy Degree in Olathe, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Olathe, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
in Olathe
Cost of Living
96.8
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Olathe, KS Overview
Olathe, Kansas (pop. 141,290) has 6 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 96.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Olathe is approximately $48,400.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,602/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,861/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
74%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Olathe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Olathe's cost of living index of 96.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Olathe adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Olathe
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Olathe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Olathe avg aid: $14,861/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,520
vs HS diploma in Olathe
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Olathe
$341,192
Lifetime earnings premium ($435,600) minus total education cost ($94,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Olathe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Olathe for Respiratory Therapy
Olathe State University
public
$10,248/yr
$40,992 total
University of Olathe
public
$10,626/yr
$42,504 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Olathe Community College
$5,283/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Olathe
Olathe offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Olathe Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$41K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Olathe
Pharmacy
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$66K 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 Olathe — 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 Olathe.