Chemistry Degree in Atlanta, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Atlanta, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Atlanta
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Atlanta, GA Overview
Atlanta is one of Georgia's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 29,341. Public tuition averages $10,828/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Atlanta is approximately $55,550, growing to $85,850 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$10,828/yr
Private Tuition
$57,948/yr
Room & Board
$11,866/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,255/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
50%
Chemistry Salary in Atlanta (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Atlanta's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Atlanta adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Atlanta
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Atlanta tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,828 | Private avg: $57,948
Atlanta avg aid: $15,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,776
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,200
vs HS diploma in Atlanta
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Atlanta
$464,724
Lifetime earnings premium ($555,500) minus total education cost ($90,776)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Atlanta
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Atlanta for Chemistry
Georgia Institute of Technology
public
$12,682/yr
$50,728 total
Emory University
private
$57,948/yr
$231,792 total
Georgia State University
public
$8,974/yr
$35,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Atlanta Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Atlanta
Atlanta offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Atlanta Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Georgia Cities
Columbus, GA
$46K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$46K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$56K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$52K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$57K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$62K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$60K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$62K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Atlanta
Prompt Engineering
$51K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$96K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$86K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$89K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$81K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Atlanta — 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 Atlanta.