Chemical Engineering Degree in Boston, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Boston, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$112K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$164K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.8 yrs
in Boston
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Boston, MA Overview
Boston is one of Massachusetts's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 40,388. Public tuition averages $14,167/year here — near the national average for public universities. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Boston is approximately $112,340.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$14,167/yr
Private Tuition
$60,730/yr
Room & Board
$14,423/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,458/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
56%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Boston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boston's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Boston adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Boston
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Boston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,167 | Private avg: $60,730
Boston avg aid: $10,458/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$64,390
vs HS diploma in Boston
ROI Payback Period
1.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boston
$1,324,140
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,438,500) minus total education cost ($114,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Boston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boston for Chemical Engineering
Boston University
private
$62,360/yr
$249,440 total
Northeastern University
private
$59,100/yr
$236,400 total
University of Massachusetts Boston
public
$14,167/yr
$56,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Roxbury Community College
$5,280/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Boston
Boston offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boston Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Worcester, MA
$96K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$109K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$109K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$92K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$89K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$105K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$84K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$97K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Boston
Petroleum Engineering
$69K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$69K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$110K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$110K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$107K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$69K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Boston — 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 Boston.