Chemistry Degree in Aurora, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Aurora, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
92.8
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Aurora, IL Overview
Aurora, Illinois (pop. 180,542) has 7 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 92.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $780/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 Aurora is approximately $51,040, growing to $78,880 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,856/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,682/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
65%
Chemistry Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 92.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 0.93x 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: $15,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Aurora avg aid: $14,682/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$117,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,560
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$393,376
Lifetime earnings premium ($510,400) minus total education cost ($117,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Chemistry
Aurora State University
public
$14,742/yr
$58,968 total
University of Aurora
public
$15,345/yr
$61,380 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Aurora Community College
$5,489/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 Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$60K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Joliet, IL
$59K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$56K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$50K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$43K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$51K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$57K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$50K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Aurora
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$79K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$82K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$46K 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.