Chemical Engineering Degree in St. Louis, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for St. Louis, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$80K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$116K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.8 yrs
in St. Louis
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in St. Louis, MO Overview
St. Louis is one of Missouri's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 23,342. Public tuition averages $12,343/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 St. Louis is approximately $79,540.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,343/yr
Private Tuition
$55,255/yr
Room & Board
$8,721/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,996/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
48%
Chemical Engineering Salary in St. Louis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Louis's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.St. Louis adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for St. Louis
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local St. Louis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,343 | Private avg: $55,255
St. Louis avg aid: $9,996/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,256
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$45,590
vs HS diploma in St. Louis
ROI Payback Period
1.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Louis
$934,244
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,018,500) minus total education cost ($84,256)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in St. Louis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Louis for Chemical Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis
private
$60,590/yr
$242,360 total
Saint Louis University
private
$49,920/yr
$199,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
St. Louis Community College
$3,600/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in St. Louis
St. Louis offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Louis Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$77K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
Springfield, MO
$66K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$69K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$70K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$78K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$72K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$74K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$68K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in St. Louis
Petroleum Engineering
$49K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$49K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in St. Louis — 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 St. Louis.