Biology Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Biology degree analysis for Worcester, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$88K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.7 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Biology in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering Biology programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/month. Biology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cell Biology and Genetics. The adjusted starting salary in Worcester is approximately $56,160, growing to $87,750 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Biology Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Biology salary: $48,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Biology ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a Biology degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,210
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
9.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$321,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($468,000) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Biology in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for Biology
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Biology in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Biology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Biology Job Titles
Biology in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$66K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Springfield, MA
$64K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$64K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$54K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$52K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$62K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$49K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$57K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Worcester
Prompt Engineering
$59K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$111K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$99K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$103K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$96K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$94K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Biology Degree in Worcester — 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 Biology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Worcester.