Chemistry Degree in Memphis, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Memphis, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in Memphis
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Memphis, TN Overview
Memphis is one of Tennessee's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 42,935. Public tuition averages $9,944/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 Memphis is approximately $51,150, growing to $79,050 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$9,944/yr
Private Tuition
$44,033/yr
Room & Board
$14,138/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,619/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Chemistry Salary in Memphis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Memphis's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Memphis adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Memphis
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Memphis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,944 | Private avg: $44,033
Memphis avg aid: $10,619/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,328
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,600
vs HS diploma in Memphis
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Memphis
$415,172
Lifetime earnings premium ($511,500) minus total education cost ($96,328)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Memphis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Memphis for Chemistry
University of Memphis
public
$9,944/yr
$39,776 total
Rhodes College
private
$52,366/yr
$209,464 total
Christian Brothers University
private
$35,700/yr
$142,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southwest Tennessee Community College
$4,464/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Memphis
Memphis offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Memphis Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$51K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$47K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$44K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$50K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$50K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$65K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$45K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$58K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Memphis
Prompt Engineering
$47K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$79K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$82K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Memphis — 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 Memphis.