Chemistry Degree in Orlando, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Orlando, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$82K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Orlando
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Orlando, FL Overview
Orlando, Florida (pop. 307,573) has 16 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $804/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 Orlando is approximately $52,800, growing to $81,600 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$6,368/yr
Private Tuition
$44,990/yr
Room & Board
$9,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,728/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
75%
Chemistry Salary in Orlando (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Orlando's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Orlando adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Orlando
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Orlando tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,368 | Private avg: $44,990
Orlando avg aid: $11,728/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$64,404
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,200
vs HS diploma in Orlando
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Orlando
$463,596
Lifetime earnings premium ($528,000) minus total education cost ($64,404)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Orlando
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Orlando for Chemistry
University of Central Florida
public
$6,368/yr
$25,472 total
Rollins College
private
$44,990/yr
$179,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Valencia College
$3,110/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Orlando
Orlando offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Orlando Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$64K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$54K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$56K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$53K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$43K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$54K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$49K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$54K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Orlando
Prompt Engineering
$48K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$91K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$82K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$84K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$79K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$77K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Orlando — 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 Orlando.