Respiratory Therapy Degree in Omaha, NE — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Omaha, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
in Omaha
Cost of Living
87
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Omaha, NE Overview
Omaha is one of Nebraska's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 33,866. Public tuition averages $8,268/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Omaha is approximately $43,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$8,268/yr
Private Tuition
$26,461/yr
Room & Board
$12,792/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,593/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
56%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Omaha (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Omaha's cost of living index of 87 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Omaha adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Omaha
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Omaha tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,268 | Private avg: $26,461
Omaha avg aid: $11,593/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,050
vs HS diploma in Omaha
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Omaha
$307,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($391,500) minus total education cost ($84,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Omaha
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Omaha for Respiratory Therapy
University of Nebraska at Omaha
public
$8,268/yr
$33,072 total
Creighton University
private
$44,146/yr
$176,584 total
Bellevue University
private
$8,775/yr
$35,100 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metropolitan Community College Omaha
$3,540/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Omaha
Omaha offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Omaha Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Nebraska Cities
Other Healthcare Majors in Omaha
Pharmacy
$44K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$59K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$44K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$44K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$44K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Omaha — 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 Omaha.