Respiratory Therapy Degree in Rochester, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Rochester, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Rochester, MN Overview
Rochester, Minnesota (pop. 121,395) has 8 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 105 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $933/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Rochester is approximately $52,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$8,930/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,715/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,803/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Rochester
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Rochester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,930 | Private avg: $42,000
Rochester avg aid: $11,803/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,580
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,750
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$385,920
Lifetime earnings premium ($472,500) minus total education cost ($86,580)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Respiratory Therapy
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
private
$42,000/yr
$168,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rochester Community and Technical College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Rochester
Rochester offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rochester Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$49K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$51K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$54K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Duluth, MN
$50K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$50K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$49K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Rochester
Pharmacy
$53K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$71K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$53K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$53K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Rochester — 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 Rochester.