Chemistry Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Chemistry students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Chemistry has been declining, graduates with skills in Organic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $57,750, growing to $89,250 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Chemistry Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,000
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
3.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$497,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($577,500) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Chemistry
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$57K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$53K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$56K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$59K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$57K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$50K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$46K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$47K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Akron
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$100K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$89K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$92K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$84K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Akron — 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 Chemistry ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.