Respiratory Therapy Degree in Orlando, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Orlando, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Orlando
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Orlando, FL Overview
Orlando, Florida (pop. 307,573) has 16 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $804/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Orlando is approximately $48,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$6,368/yr
Private Tuition
$44,990/yr
Room & Board
$9,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,728/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
75%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Orlando (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Orlando's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Orlando adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Orlando
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Orlando tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,368 | Private avg: $44,990
Orlando avg aid: $11,728/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$64,404
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,400
vs HS diploma in Orlando
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Orlando
$367,596
Lifetime earnings premium ($432,000) minus total education cost ($64,404)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Orlando
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Orlando for Respiratory Therapy
University of Central Florida
public
$6,368/yr
$25,472 total
Rollins College
private
$44,990/yr
$179,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Valencia College
$3,110/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Orlando
Orlando offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Orlando Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$59K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$49K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$51K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$49K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$39K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$49K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$49K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Orlando
Pharmacy
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$65K 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 Orlando — 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 Orlando.