Chemistry Degree in Milwaukee, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Milwaukee, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Milwaukee
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Milwaukee, WI Overview
Milwaukee is one of Wisconsin's top college towns, with 33 institutions and a student population of 59,419. Public tuition averages $9,782/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 Milwaukee is approximately $51,700, growing to $79,900 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
33
Public Tuition
$9,782/yr
Private Tuition
$45,550/yr
Room & Board
$11,342/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,008/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
63%
Chemistry Salary in Milwaukee (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Milwaukee's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Milwaukee adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Milwaukee
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Milwaukee tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,782 | Private avg: $45,550
Milwaukee avg aid: $13,008/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,496
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,800
vs HS diploma in Milwaukee
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Milwaukee
$432,504
Lifetime earnings premium ($517,000) minus total education cost ($84,496)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Milwaukee
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Milwaukee for Chemistry
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
public
$9,782/yr
$39,128 total
Marquette University
private
$46,510/yr
$186,040 total
Milwaukee School of Engineering
private
$44,589/yr
$178,356 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Milwaukee Area Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Milwaukee
Milwaukee offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Milwaukee Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Madison, WI
$49K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$47K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$58K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$47K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$43K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$50K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$47K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$59K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Milwaukee
Prompt Engineering
$47K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$89K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$80K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$83K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$77K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Milwaukee — 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 Milwaukee.