Chemistry Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Lexington, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Lexington
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Lexington, KY Overview
Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/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 Lexington is approximately $58,850, growing to $90,950 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,360/yr
Private Tuition
$42,200/yr
Room & Board
$10,700/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,397/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
65%
Chemistry Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Lexington
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Lexington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200
Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,400
vs HS diploma in Lexington
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lexington
$496,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($588,500) minus total education cost ($92,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Lexington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lexington for Chemistry
University of Kentucky
public
$12,360/yr
$49,440 total
Transylvania University
private
$42,200/yr
$168,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Lexington
Lexington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other STEM Majors in Lexington
Prompt Engineering
$54K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$102K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$91K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$94K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$88K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Lexington — 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 Lexington.