Respiratory Therapy Degree in Pittsburgh, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Pittsburgh, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.2 yrs
in Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Pittsburgh, PA Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (pop. 302,971) has 12 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 115 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,285/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Pittsburgh is approximately $57,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$19,718/yr
Private Tuition
$61,344/yr
Room & Board
$15,793/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,441/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
63%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Pittsburgh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Pittsburgh adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Pittsburgh
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Pittsburgh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $19,718 | Private avg: $61,344
Pittsburgh avg aid: $13,441/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$142,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,250
vs HS diploma in Pittsburgh
ROI Payback Period
8.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pittsburgh
$375,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($517,500) minus total education cost ($142,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Pittsburgh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pittsburgh for Respiratory Therapy
University of Pittsburgh
public
$19,718/yr
$78,872 total
Carnegie Mellon University
private
$61,344/yr
$245,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Allegheny County
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pittsburgh Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$75K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Pittsburgh
Pharmacy
$58K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$78K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$58K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$58K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Pittsburgh — 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 Pittsburgh.