Respiratory Therapy Degree Programs in New Haven, CT (2026)

Quick answer: Respiratory Therapists in the New Haven area earn a median $85,230 per year, above the national median of $82,280, and the metro employs about 240 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Respiratory Therapy Pay in New Haven, CT

MetricNew Haven metroConnecticutNational
Median annual wage$85,230$85,230$82,280
10th percentile$80,750$72,410$63,660
25th percentile$82,620$80,570$74,520
75th percentile$102,660$98,010$98,730
90th percentile$112,390$121,620$118,050
Employment2401,370139,790
Location quotient0.97-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the New Haven, CT metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The New Haven median of $85,230 is above the national median of $82,280, and level with the Connecticut statewide median of $85,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.97 means respiratory therapists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, so the local hospital and critical-care capacity is the market.

Other Connecticut Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Hartford$81,770550
Bridgeport$98,010260
Waterbury$89,660140

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies.

See the Connecticut licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT 20.2 miles away BOC Score 74.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 84.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 236
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $91,378 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Charter Oak State College

New Britain, CT 25.7 miles away BOC Score 69.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 104
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,128 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

University of New Haven

West Haven, CT 2.4 miles away BOC Score 56.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 44
  • Annual completions: 1574
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,164 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT 1.9 miles away BOC Score 54.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 176
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,787 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Porter & Chester Institute

Bridgeport, CT 15.6 miles away BOC Score 47.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 47.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 2578
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,863 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton

Shelton, CT 11.1 miles away BOC Score 37.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 60.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 930
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,136 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain

New Britain, CT 25.6 miles away BOC Score 37.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 59.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 765
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,136 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden

Hamden, CT 2.5 miles away BOC Score 32.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 36.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 514
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,281 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Post University

Waterbury, CT 17.5 miles away BOC Score 22.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 29.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 440
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,571 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do respiratory therapists make in New Haven?

The median annual wage for respiratory therapists in the New Haven, CT metro area is $85,230, above the national median of $82,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many respiratory therapists work in the New Haven area?

The New Haven, CT metro area employs about 240 respiratory therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do respiratory therapists in New Haven need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Respiratory therapy programs are accredited by CoARC, and credentialing runs through the NBRC: the CRT is the entry credential and the RRT the advanced one that most hospitals now expect. Licensure itself is issued by the state, and the credential it requires varies. Confirm current requirements with your state respiratory care board.

Can I study respiratory therapy online from New Haven?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state respiratory care board.

Is New Haven a better market than the rest of Connecticut?

The New Haven metro median is $85,230 against a statewide median of $85,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.