Chemistry Degree in Cambridge, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Cambridge, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$113K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.6 yrs
in Cambridge
Cost of Living
133
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Cambridge, MA Overview
Cambridge, Massachusetts (pop. 118,403) has 6 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 133 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,322/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 Cambridge is approximately $73,150, growing to $113,050 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$13,207/yr
Private Tuition
$57,624/yr
Room & Board
$17,447/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,677/yr
Unemployment
3.7%
Graduation Rate
75%
Chemistry Salary in Cambridge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cambridge's cost of living index of 133 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Cambridge adjustment factor: 1.33x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Cambridge
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Cambridge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,207 | Private avg: $57,624
Cambridge avg aid: $14,677/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,616
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,600
vs HS diploma in Cambridge
ROI Payback Period
4.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cambridge
$608,884
Lifetime earnings premium ($731,500) minus total education cost ($122,616)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Cambridge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cambridge for Chemistry
Harvard University
private
$57,261/yr
$229,044 total
MIT
private
$57,986/yr
$231,944 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Cambridge
Cambridge offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cambridge Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$75K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$64K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$73K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$62K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$60K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$71K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$56K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$65K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Cambridge
Prompt Engineering
$67K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$126K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$113K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$117K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$109K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$106K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Cambridge — 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 Cambridge.