Chemical Engineering Degree in Arlington, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Arlington, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$117K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$171K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.8 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
142.5
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Arlington, VA Overview
Arlington, Virginia (pop. 238,643) has 9 colleges offering Chemical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 142.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,040/month. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $116,850.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,293/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,637/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
60%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 142.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 1.43x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Arlington avg aid: $10,637/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,972
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$66,975
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
1.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$1,374,278
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,496,250) minus total education cost ($121,972)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Chemical Engineering
Arlington State University
public
$14,920/yr
$59,680 total
University of Arlington
public
$14,115/yr
$56,460 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$6,397/yr
Virginia Technical College - Arlington
$5,927/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$72K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$75K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$76K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$82K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$76K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$84K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$80K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$73K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Arlington
Petroleum Engineering
$71K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$114K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$114K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$111K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Arlington — 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 Chemical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.