Respiratory Therapy Degree in Upper Darby, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Respiratory Therapy degree analysis for Upper Darby, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Upper Darby
Cost of Living
94.5
index (100 = avg)
Respiratory Therapy in Upper Darby, PA Overview
While Upper Darby has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Respiratory Therapy students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,171/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Respiratory Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Ventilator Management and Airway Management skills. The adjusted starting salary in Upper Darby is approximately $47,250.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$15,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,595/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
70%
Respiratory Therapy Salary in Upper Darby (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Upper Darby's cost of living index of 94.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Respiratory Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Upper Darby adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Respiratory Therapy ROI Calculator for Upper Darby
Estimate your return on investment for a Respiratory Therapy degree using local Upper Darby tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Upper Darby avg aid: $12,595/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$118,684
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,175
vs HS diploma in Upper Darby
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Upper Darby
$306,566
Lifetime earnings premium ($425,250) minus total education cost ($118,684)
Student Loan Payoff for Respiratory Therapy in Upper Darby
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Upper Darby for Respiratory Therapy
Upper Darby State University
public
$16,192/yr
$64,768 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Upper Darby Community College
$5,336/yr
Top Employers for Respiratory Therapy in Upper Darby
Upper Darby offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Respiratory Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Upper Darby Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Respiratory Therapy Job Titles
Respiratory Therapy in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$75K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Upper Darby
Pharmacy
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$64K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$47K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$47K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Respiratory Therapy Degree in Upper Darby — 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 Upper Darby.