Chemistry Degree in Mesquite, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Mesquite, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in Mesquite
Cost of Living
92.3
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Mesquite, TX Overview
Mesquite, Texas (pop. 150,108) has 6 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 92.3 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $720/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 Mesquite is approximately $50,765, growing to $78,455 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,260/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,026/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
58%
Chemistry Salary in Mesquite (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mesquite's cost of living index of 92.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Mesquite adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Mesquite
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Mesquite tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Mesquite avg aid: $8,026/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,640
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,460
vs HS diploma in Mesquite
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mesquite
$411,010
Lifetime earnings premium ($507,650) minus total education cost ($96,640)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Mesquite
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mesquite for Chemistry
Mesquite State University
public
$10,808/yr
$43,232 total
University of Mesquite
public
$11,881/yr
$47,524 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mesquite Community College
$5,670/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Mesquite
Mesquite offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mesquite Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$63K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$66K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$57K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$59K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$56K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$51K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$51K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$45K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Mesquite
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$78K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$81K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Mesquite — 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 Mesquite.