Chemical Engineering Degree in El Paso, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for El Paso, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$76K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$112K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.1 yrs
in El Paso
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in El Paso, TX Overview
El Paso is one of Texas's top college towns, with 38 institutions and a student population of 26,186. Public tuition averages $8,886/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in El Paso is approximately $76,260.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
38
Public Tuition
$8,886/yr
Private Tuition
$12,800/yr
Room & Board
$13,953/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,714/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
56%
Chemical Engineering Salary in El Paso (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for El Paso's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.El Paso adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for El Paso
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local El Paso tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,886 | Private avg: $12,800
El Paso avg aid: $16,714/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,356
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$43,710
vs HS diploma in El Paso
ROI Payback Period
2.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in El Paso
$885,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($976,500) minus total education cost ($91,356)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in El Paso
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in El Paso for Chemical Engineering
University of Texas at El Paso
public
$8,592/yr
$34,368 total
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
public
$9,180/yr
$36,720 total
Western Technical College
private
$12,800/yr
$51,200 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
El Paso Community College
$2,616/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in El Paso
El Paso offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key El Paso Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$94K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$98K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$85K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$88K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$83K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
Arlington, TX
$77K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$67K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$70K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in El Paso
Petroleum Engineering
$47K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$74K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in El Paso — 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 El Paso.