Chemical Engineering Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$116K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$169K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/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 Los Angeles is approximately $115,620.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$66,270
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$1,353,292
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,480,500) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Chemical Engineering
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby California Cities
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
Bakersfield, CA
$110K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Los Angeles
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
$113K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$113K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$110K 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 Los Angeles — 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 Los Angeles.