Chemistry Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Des Moines is approximately $50,600, growing to $78,200 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,977/yr
Private Tuition
$38,388/yr
Room & Board
$8,658/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,739/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
56%
Chemistry Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Des Moines tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,977 | Private avg: $38,388
Des Moines avg aid: $9,739/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,540
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,400
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
3.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$435,460
Lifetime earnings premium ($506,000) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Chemistry
Drake University
private
$45,520/yr
$182,080 total
Grand View University
private
$31,256/yr
$125,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Des Moines Area Community College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$55K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$43K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$46K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$52K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$54K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$53K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$45K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$48K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Des Moines
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$87K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$78K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$81K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Des Moines — 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 Des Moines.