Chemistry Degree in Aurora, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Aurora, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$94K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Aurora, CO Overview
Aurora is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 20,916. Public tuition averages $11,380/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 Aurora is approximately $61,050, growing to $94,350 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$47,322/yr
Room & Board
$13,656/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,981/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Chemistry Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $47,322
Aurora avg aid: $16,981/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,200
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$510,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($610,500) minus total education cost ($100,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Chemistry
University of Colorado Anschutz
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Aurora
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$70K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$67K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$69K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$58K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$56K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$58K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$57K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$67K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Aurora
Prompt Engineering
$56K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$105K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$94K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$98K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$91K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$89K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Aurora — 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 Aurora.