Respiratory Therapy Degree in Roanoke, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Roanoke, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.6 yrs
in Roanoke
Cost of Living
88.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Roanoke, VA Overview
While Roanoke has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,393/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 Roanoke is approximately $44,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,393/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,213/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
63%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Roanoke (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Roanoke's cost of living index of 88.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Roanoke adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Roanoke
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Roanoke tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Roanoke avg aid: $11,213/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,275
vs HS diploma in Roanoke
ROI Payback Period
8.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Roanoke
$283,878
Lifetime earnings premium ($398,250) minus total education cost ($114,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Roanoke
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Roanoke for Respiratory Therapy
Roanoke State University
public
$14,684/yr
$58,736 total
University of Roanoke
public
$12,724/yr
$50,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Roanoke Community College
$5,068/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Roanoke
Roanoke offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Roanoke 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
Richmond, VA
$50K starting · COL 100
11 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
Other Healthcare Majors in Roanoke
Pharmacy
$44K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$60K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$44K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$44K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$44K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Roanoke — 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 Roanoke.