Chemistry Degree in Metairie, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Metairie, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in Metairie
Cost of Living
89.4
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Metairie, LA Overview
Metairie, Louisiana (pop. 138,481) has 6 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 89.4 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $645/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 Metairie is approximately $49,170, growing to $75,990 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,366/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,835/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Chemistry Salary in Metairie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Metairie's cost of living index of 89.4 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Metairie adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Metairie
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Metairie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $28,000
Metairie avg aid: $14,835/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,664
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,880
vs HS diploma in Metairie
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Metairie
$399,036
Lifetime earnings premium ($491,700) minus total education cost ($92,664)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Metairie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Metairie for Chemistry
Metairie State University
public
$8,983/yr
$35,932 total
University of Metairie
public
$10,583/yr
$42,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metairie Community College
$4,982/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Metairie
Metairie offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Metairie Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$50K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$45K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$54K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$57K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$44K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$48K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$51K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Metairie
Prompt Engineering
$45K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$85K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$76K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$79K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Metairie — 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 Metairie.