Respiratory Therapy Degree in St. Louis, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for St. Louis, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in St. Louis
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in St. Louis, MO Overview
St. Louis is one of Missouri's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 23,342. Public tuition averages $12,343/year here — near the national average for public universities. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in St. Louis is approximately $48,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,343/yr
Private Tuition
$55,255/yr
Room & Board
$8,721/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,996/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
48%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in St. Louis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Louis's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.St. Louis adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for St. Louis
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local St. Louis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,343 | Private avg: $55,255
St. Louis avg aid: $9,996/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,256
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,550
vs HS diploma in St. Louis
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Louis
$352,244
Lifetime earnings premium ($436,500) minus total education cost ($84,256)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in St. Louis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Louis for Respiratory Therapy
Washington University in St. Louis
private
$60,590/yr
$242,360 total
Saint Louis University
private
$49,920/yr
$199,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
St. Louis Community College
$3,600/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in St. Louis
St. Louis offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Louis Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
Springfield, MO
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$42K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$48K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in St. Louis
Pharmacy
$49K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$66K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$49K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$49K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in St. Louis — 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 St. Louis.