Chemistry Degree in Montgomery, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Montgomery, AL. 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
4.8 yrs
in Montgomery
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Montgomery, AL Overview
Montgomery is one of Alabama's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 17,419. Public tuition averages $10,814/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 Montgomery is approximately $50,600, growing to $78,200 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
21
Public Tuition
$10,814/yr
Private Tuition
$29,622/yr
Room & Board
$11,372/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,044/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
46%
Chemistry Salary in Montgomery (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Montgomery's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Montgomery adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Montgomery
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Montgomery tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,814 | Private avg: $29,622
Montgomery avg aid: $7,044/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,744
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,400
vs HS diploma in Montgomery
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Montgomery
$417,256
Lifetime earnings premium ($506,000) minus total education cost ($88,744)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Montgomery
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Montgomery for Chemistry
Alabama State University
public
$11,068/yr
$44,272 total
Auburn University at Montgomery
public
$10,560/yr
$42,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Trenholm State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Montgomery
Montgomery offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Montgomery Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$54K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Birmingham, AL
$48K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Mobile, AL
$54K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$43K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$53K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$57K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$45K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$46K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Montgomery
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$87K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$78K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$81K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$75K 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 Montgomery — 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 Montgomery.