Chemistry Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of substances, their properties, reactions, and transformations.
Starting Salary
$55K
median
Mid-Career
$85K
salary
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
4.2%
rate
Chemistry Overview
Study of substances, their properties, reactions, and transformations.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
62%
Enrollment Trend
declining
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
25%
Lifetime Premium
$550K
Female Graduates
48%
Chemistry Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,900
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,900
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$531,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($550,000) minus net degree cost ($18,900)
Chemistry Salary Progression
Common Chemistry Careers
Chemist
Lab Technician
Quality Control Analyst
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Chemistry
#1
MIT
#2
Caltech
#3
Stanford
#4
UC Berkeley
#5
Harvard
Related Majors
Chemistry Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Chemistry Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for chemistry programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
Compare All College Majors
Analyze ROI, salary potential, and career outcomes for 150+ college majors.