Respiratory Therapy Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Santa Rosa is approximately $63,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$490,492
Lifetime earnings premium ($571,500) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Respiratory Therapy
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa
Pharmacy
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$86K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$64K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Santa Rosa — 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 Santa Rosa.