Respiratory Therapy Degree in Rochester, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Rochester, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$95K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
140
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Rochester, NY Overview
Rochester, New York (pop. 211,328) has 13 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 140 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,592/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 $70,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$13,886/yr
Private Tuition
$56,653/yr
Room & Board
$21,356/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,325/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 140 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.40x 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: $13,886 | Private avg: $56,653
Rochester avg aid: $10,325/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$140,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,000
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$489,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($630,000) minus total education cost ($140,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Respiratory Therapy
University of Rochester
private
$60,550/yr
$242,200 total
Rochester Institute of Technology
private
$52,756/yr
$211,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Monroe Community College
$5,504/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 New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$94K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Rochester
Pharmacy
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$95K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$70K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$70K 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.