Respiratory Therapy Degree in Shreveport, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Shreveport, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Shreveport
Cost of Living
99
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Shreveport, LA Overview
Shreveport, Louisiana (pop. 187,593) has 14 colleges offering Respiratory Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 99 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $810/month. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Shreveport is approximately $49,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$8,434/yr
Private Tuition
$38,590/yr
Room & Board
$11,198/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,933/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
60%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Shreveport (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Shreveport's cost of living index of 99 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Shreveport adjustment factor: 0.99x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Shreveport
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Shreveport tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,434 | Private avg: $38,590
Shreveport avg aid: $14,933/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$78,528
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,850
vs HS diploma in Shreveport
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Shreveport
$366,972
Lifetime earnings premium ($445,500) minus total education cost ($78,528)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Shreveport
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Shreveport for Respiratory Therapy
Louisiana State University Shreveport
public
$8,434/yr
$33,736 total
Centenary College of Louisiana
private
$38,590/yr
$154,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bossier Parish Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Shreveport
Shreveport offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Shreveport Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Shreveport
Pharmacy
$50K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$67K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$50K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$50K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$50K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$50K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Shreveport — 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 Shreveport.