Respiratory Therapy Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/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 Renton is approximately $61,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,375
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$440,358
Lifetime earnings premium ($551,250) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Respiratory Therapy
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Renton
Pharmacy
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$61K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.