Chemistry Degree in Anchorage, AK — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Anchorage, AK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Anchorage
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Anchorage, AK Overview
Anchorage, Alaska (pop. 291,247) has 18 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,400/month. 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 Anchorage is approximately $66,550, growing to $102,850 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$8,100/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$19,313/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,634/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
58%
Chemistry Salary in Anchorage (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Anchorage's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Anchorage adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Anchorage
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Anchorage tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,100 | Private avg: $24,000
Anchorage avg aid: $15,634/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,652
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,200
vs HS diploma in Anchorage
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Anchorage
$555,848
Lifetime earnings premium ($665,500) minus total education cost ($109,652)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Anchorage
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Anchorage for Chemistry
University of Alaska Anchorage
public
$8,100/yr
$32,400 total
Alaska Pacific University
private
$24,000/yr
$96,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
UAA Community Campus
$4,300/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Anchorage
Anchorage offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Anchorage Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Other STEM Majors in Anchorage
Prompt Engineering
$61K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$115K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$103K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$106K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$99K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$103K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$97K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Anchorage — 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 Anchorage.