Chemical Engineering Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$100K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$147K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Chemical Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/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 Renton is approximately $100,450.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$57,575
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$1,175,358
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,286,250) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Chemical Engineering
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$98K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$99K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$93K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$89K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$146K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$95K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$97K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$101K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Renton
Petroleum Engineering
$61K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$98K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$98K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$96K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.