Chemistry Degree in Ontario, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Ontario, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$102K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Ontario
Cost of Living
120.3
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Ontario, CA Overview
Ontario, California (pop. 175,265) has 7 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 120.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,500/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 Ontario is approximately $66,165, growing to $102,255 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,501/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,507/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
62%
Chemistry Salary in Ontario (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Ontario's cost of living index of 120.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Ontario adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Ontario
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Ontario tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Ontario avg aid: $11,507/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$116,004
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,060
vs HS diploma in Ontario
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Ontario
$545,646
Lifetime earnings premium ($661,650) minus total education cost ($116,004)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Ontario
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Ontario for Chemistry
Ontario State University
public
$15,124/yr
$60,496 total
University of Ontario
public
$13,870/yr
$55,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ontario Community College
$6,160/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Ontario
Ontario offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Ontario 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 Ontario
Prompt Engineering
$60K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$114K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$102K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$106K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$99K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$102K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$96K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Ontario — 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 Ontario.