Chemistry Degree in Huntsville, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Huntsville, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Huntsville
Cost of Living
98
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Huntsville, AL Overview
Huntsville is one of Alabama's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 16,424. Public tuition averages $10,562/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Huntsville is approximately $53,900, growing to $83,300 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
21
Public Tuition
$10,562/yr
Private Tuition
$35,615/yr
Room & Board
$9,972/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,465/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Chemistry Salary in Huntsville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Huntsville's cost of living index of 98 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Huntsville adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Huntsville
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Huntsville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,562 | Private avg: $35,615
Huntsville avg aid: $7,465/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,136
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,600
vs HS diploma in Huntsville
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Huntsville
$456,864
Lifetime earnings premium ($539,000) minus total education cost ($82,136)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Huntsville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Huntsville for Chemistry
University of Alabama in Huntsville
public
$11,100/yr
$44,400 total
Alabama A&M University
public
$10,024/yr
$40,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Calhoun Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Huntsville
Huntsville offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Huntsville Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Alabama Cities
Birmingham, AL
$48K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$51K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Mobile, AL
$54K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$43K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$53K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$57K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$45K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$46K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Huntsville
Prompt Engineering
$49K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$93K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$83K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$86K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$80K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Huntsville — 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 Huntsville.