Chemistry Degree in Hampton, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Hampton, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$82K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Hampton
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Hampton, VA Overview
Hampton, Virginia (pop. 137,148) has 7 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 97 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,001/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 Hampton is approximately $53,350, growing to $82,450 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$7,217/yr
Private Tuition
$29,404/yr
Room & Board
$11,761/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,608/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Chemistry Salary in Hampton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Hampton's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Hampton adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Hampton
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Hampton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,217 | Private avg: $29,404
Hampton avg aid: $10,608/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$75,912
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,400
vs HS diploma in Hampton
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Hampton
$457,588
Lifetime earnings premium ($533,500) minus total education cost ($75,912)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Hampton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Hampton for Chemistry
Hampton University
private
$29,404/yr
$117,616 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Thomas Nelson Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Hampton
Hampton offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Hampton Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$48K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$50K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$78K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$51K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$55K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$51K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$56K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$49K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Hampton
Prompt Engineering
$49K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$92K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$82K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$85K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$80K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Hampton — 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 Hampton.