Chemistry Degree in Bellevue, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Bellevue, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$98K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$152K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Bellevue
Cost of Living
178.5
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Bellevue, WA Overview
Bellevue, Washington (pop. 151,854) has 6 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 178.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $3,300/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 Bellevue is approximately $98,175, growing to $151,725 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,115/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,339/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Chemistry Salary in Bellevue (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bellevue's cost of living index of 178.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Bellevue adjustment factor: 1.78x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Bellevue
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Bellevue tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Bellevue avg aid: $12,339/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$119,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$35,700
vs HS diploma in Bellevue
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bellevue
$862,090
Lifetime earnings premium ($981,750) minus total education cost ($119,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Bellevue
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bellevue for Chemistry
Bellevue State University
public
$11,349/yr
$45,396 total
University of Bellevue
public
$11,803/yr
$47,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bellevue Community College
$7,512/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Bellevue
Bellevue offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bellevue Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$66K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$67K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$62K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$60K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Kent, WA
$64K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$65K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$67K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$68K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Bellevue
Prompt Engineering
$89K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$170K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$152K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$157K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$146K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$89K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$143K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$89K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Bellevue — 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 Bellevue.