Respiratory Therapy Degree in Pomona, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Pomona, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Pomona
Cost of Living
131
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Pomona, CA Overview
Pomona, California (pop. 151,348) has 11 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 131 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,430/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Pomona is approximately $65,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$7,387/yr
Private Tuition
$40,824/yr
Room & Board
$16,037/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,843/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
66%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Pomona (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pomona's cost of living index of 131 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Pomona adjustment factor: 1.31x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Pomona
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Pomona tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,387 | Private avg: $40,824
Pomona avg aid: $10,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,696
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,650
vs HS diploma in Pomona
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pomona
$495,804
Lifetime earnings premium ($589,500) minus total education cost ($93,696)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Pomona
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pomona for Respiratory Therapy
Cal Poly Pomona
public
$7,387/yr
$29,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mt. San Antonio College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Pomona
Pomona offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pomona Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Pomona
Pharmacy
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$66K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$66K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$66K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$66K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$66K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$66K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Pomona — 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 Pomona.