Respiratory Therapy Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Richmond is approximately $50,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$347,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($450,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Respiratory Therapy
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Richmond
Pharmacy
$50K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$68K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$50K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$50K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$50K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$50K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Richmond — 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 Richmond.