Respiratory Therapy Degree in Racine, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Racine, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Racine
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Racine, WI Overview
While Racine has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,562/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Racine is approximately $42,900.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,600/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,562/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,051/yr
Unemployment
2.1%
Graduation Rate
72%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Racine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Racine's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Racine adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Racine
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Racine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,600 | Private avg: $34,000
Racine avg aid: $8,051/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,870
vs HS diploma in Racine
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Racine
$293,452
Lifetime earnings premium ($386,100) minus total education cost ($92,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Racine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Racine for Respiratory Therapy
Racine State University
public
$11,121/yr
$44,484 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Racine Community College
$5,143/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Racine
Racine offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Racine Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Racine
Pharmacy
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$58K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$43K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$43K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Racine — 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 Racine.