Chemical Engineering Degree in Irvine, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Irvine, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$89K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$131K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.6 yrs
in Irvine
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Irvine, CA Overview
Irvine is one of California's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 16,104. Public tuition averages $13,752/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 Irvine is approximately $89,380.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$13,752/yr
Private Tuition
$33,606/yr
Room & Board
$19,564/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,909/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Irvine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Irvine's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Irvine adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Irvine
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Irvine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,752 | Private avg: $33,606
Irvine avg aid: $8,909/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$133,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$51,230
vs HS diploma in Irvine
ROI Payback Period
2.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Irvine
$1,011,236
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,144,500) minus total education cost ($133,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Irvine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Irvine for Chemical Engineering
University of California, Irvine
public
$13,752/yr
$55,008 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Irvine Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Irvine
Irvine offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Irvine Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$116K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$115K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$106K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$93K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$97K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$92K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$95K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$108K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Irvine
Petroleum Engineering
$55K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$55K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$85K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Irvine — 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 Irvine.