Respiratory Therapy Degree in Pasadena, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Pasadena, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Pasadena
Cost of Living
88.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Pasadena, TX Overview
Pasadena, Texas (pop. 152,272) has 6 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 88.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $585/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Pasadena is approximately $44,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,948/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,306/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
51%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Pasadena (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pasadena's cost of living index of 88.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Pasadena adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Pasadena
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Pasadena tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Pasadena avg aid: $9,306/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,275
vs HS diploma in Pasadena
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pasadena
$298,858
Lifetime earnings premium ($398,250) minus total education cost ($99,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Pasadena
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pasadena for Respiratory Therapy
Pasadena State University
public
$10,249/yr
$40,996 total
University of Pasadena
public
$12,075/yr
$48,300 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pasadena Community College
$5,344/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Pasadena
Pasadena offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pasadena Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Pasadena
Pharmacy
$44K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$60K 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 Pasadena — 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 Pasadena.