Chemistry Degree in Elk Grove, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Elk Grove, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Elk Grove
Cost of Living
122.1
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Elk Grove, CA Overview
Elk Grove, California (pop. 176,124) has 7 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 122.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,620/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 Elk Grove is approximately $67,155, growing to $103,785 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,727/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,323/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Chemistry Salary in Elk Grove (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elk Grove's cost of living index of 122.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Elk Grove adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Elk Grove
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Elk Grove tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Elk Grove avg aid: $14,323/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,908
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,420
vs HS diploma in Elk Grove
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elk Grove
$550,642
Lifetime earnings premium ($671,550) minus total education cost ($120,908)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Elk Grove
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elk Grove for Chemistry
Elk Grove State University
public
$14,642/yr
$58,568 total
University of Elk Grove
public
$14,455/yr
$57,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elk Grove Community College
$5,858/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Elk Grove
Elk Grove offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elk Grove Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$78K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$77K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$71K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$63K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$65K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$62K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$64K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$73K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Elk Grove
Prompt Engineering
$61K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$116K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$104K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$107K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$100K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$104K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$98K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Elk Grove — 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 Elk Grove.