Chemistry Degree in Escondido, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Escondido, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$76K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$118K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Escondido
Cost of Living
138.7
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Escondido, CA Overview
Escondido, California (pop. 151,038) has 6 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 138.7 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,920/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 Escondido is approximately $76,285, growing to $117,895 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,517/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,955/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
55%
Chemistry Salary in Escondido (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Escondido's cost of living index of 138.7 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Escondido adjustment factor: 1.39x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Escondido
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Escondido tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Escondido avg aid: $11,955/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,740
vs HS diploma in Escondido
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Escondido
$642,782
Lifetime earnings premium ($762,850) minus total education cost ($120,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Escondido
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Escondido for Chemistry
Escondido State University
public
$13,969/yr
$55,876 total
University of Escondido
public
$12,415/yr
$49,660 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Escondido Community College
$5,798/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Escondido
Escondido offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Escondido 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 Escondido
Prompt Engineering
$69K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$132K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$118K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$122K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$114K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$118K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$111K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Escondido — 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 Escondido.