Chemistry Degree in Boise, ID — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Boise, ID. 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
3.6 yrs
in Boise
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Boise, ID Overview
Boise is one of Idaho's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 13,506. Public tuition averages $8,060/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 Boise is approximately $66,550, growing to $102,850 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$8,060/yr
Private Tuition
$34,250/yr
Room & Board
$13,521/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,294/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
58%
Chemistry Salary in Boise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boise'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.Boise adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Boise
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Boise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,060 | Private avg: $34,250
Boise avg aid: $15,294/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,200
vs HS diploma in Boise
ROI Payback Period
3.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boise
$579,176
Lifetime earnings premium ($665,500) minus total education cost ($86,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Boise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boise for Chemistry
Boise State University
public
$8,060/yr
$32,240 total
College of Idaho
private
$34,250/yr
$137,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
College of Western Idaho
$3,456/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Boise
Boise offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boise Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Idaho Cities
Meridian, ID
$57K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Nampa, ID
$53K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Idaho Falls, ID
$51K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Caldwell, ID
$51K starting · COL 92.8
3 colleges
Pocatello, ID
$65K starting · COL 118
6 colleges
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$58K starting · COL 105.2
3 colleges
Twin Falls, ID
$69K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Boise
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 Boise — 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 Boise.