Chemical Engineering Degree in Chattanooga, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Chattanooga, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$96K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.3 yrs
in Chattanooga
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Chattanooga, TN Overview
While Chattanooga has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Chemical Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,210/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Chattanooga is approximately $65,600.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,648/yr
Private Tuition
$39,466/yr
Room & Board
$12,210/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,310/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Chattanooga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Chattanooga adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Chattanooga
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Chattanooga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,648 | Private avg: $39,466
Chattanooga avg aid: $9,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$37,600
vs HS diploma in Chattanooga
ROI Payback Period
2.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chattanooga
$752,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($840,000) minus total education cost ($87,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Chattanooga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chattanooga for Chemical Engineering
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
public
$9,648/yr
$38,592 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chattanooga State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chattanooga Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$75K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$76K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$70K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$74K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$75K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$97K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$68K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$86K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Chattanooga
Petroleum Engineering
$40K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Chattanooga — 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 Chattanooga.