Chemistry Degree in Modesto, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Modesto, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$72K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$111K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.1 yrs
in Modesto
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Modesto, CA Overview
Modesto, California (pop. 218,464) has 9 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,224/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 Modesto is approximately $71,500, growing to $110,500 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$1,540/yr
Private Tuition
$57,167/yr
Room & Board
$18,295/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,378/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Chemistry Salary in Modesto (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Modesto's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Modesto adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Modesto
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Modesto tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $1,540 | Private avg: $57,167
Modesto avg aid: $10,378/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,340
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,000
vs HS diploma in Modesto
ROI Payback Period
3.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Modesto
$635,660
Lifetime earnings premium ($715,000) minus total education cost ($79,340)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Modesto
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Modesto for Chemistry
Modesto Junior College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Modesto Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Modesto
Modesto offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Modesto Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$78K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$77K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$71K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$63K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$65K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$62K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$64K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$73K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Modesto
Prompt Engineering
$65K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$124K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$111K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$114K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$107K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$111K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$104K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Modesto — 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 Modesto.