Chemical Engineering Degree in New York City, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for New York City, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$136K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$199K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.3 yrs
in New York City
Cost of Living
166
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in New York City, NY Overview
New York City is one of New York's top college towns, with 49 institutions and a student population of 741,375. Public tuition averages $7,340/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 New York City is approximately $136,120.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
49
Public Tuition
$7,340/yr
Private Tuition
$61,846/yr
Room & Board
$18,386/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,784/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Chemical Engineering Salary in New York City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New York City's cost of living index of 166 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.New York City adjustment factor: 1.66x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for New York City
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local New York City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,340 | Private avg: $61,846
New York City avg aid: $15,784/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,904
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$78,020
vs HS diploma in New York City
ROI Payback Period
1.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New York City
$1,640,096
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,743,000) minus total education cost ($102,904)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in New York City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New York City for Chemical Engineering
New York University
private
$58,168/yr
$232,672 total
Columbia University
private
$65,524/yr
$262,096 total
CUNY
public
$7,340/yr
$29,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
BMCC
$5,218/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in New York City
New York City offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New York City Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby New York Cities
New York, NY
$154K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$119K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$100K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$116K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$125K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$119K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$115K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$111K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in New York City
Petroleum Engineering
$83K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$83K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$133K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$133K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$129K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$83K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in New York City — 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 New York City.