Respiratory Therapy Degree in Peoria, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Peoria, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Peoria
Cost of Living
103.8
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Peoria, AZ Overview
Peoria, Arizona (pop. 190,985) has 7 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 103.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,185/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Peoria is approximately $51,900.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$11,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,921/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,765/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
49%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Peoria (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Peoria's cost of living index of 103.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Peoria adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Peoria
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Peoria tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Peoria avg aid: $10,765/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,284
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,570
vs HS diploma in Peoria
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Peoria
$361,816
Lifetime earnings premium ($467,100) minus total education cost ($105,284)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Peoria
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Peoria for Respiratory Therapy
Peoria State University
public
$12,533/yr
$50,132 total
University of Peoria
public
$10,155/yr
$40,620 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Peoria Community College
$5,359/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Peoria
Peoria offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Peoria Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$76K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$58K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$55K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$62K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$60K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$53K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$63K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Peoria
Pharmacy
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$71K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$52K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Peoria — 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 Peoria.