Respiratory Therapy Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Riverside is approximately $59,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,850
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$410,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($535,500) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Respiratory Therapy
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside 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 Riverside
Pharmacy
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$81K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$60K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.