Chemistry Degree in Plano, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Plano, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Plano
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Plano, TX Overview
Plano, Texas (pop. 285,494) has 9 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $849/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 Plano is approximately $46,750, growing to $72,250 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$2,220/yr
Private Tuition
$39,702/yr
Room & Board
$12,277/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,063/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
57%
Chemistry Salary in Plano (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Plano's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Plano adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Plano
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Plano tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $2,220 | Private avg: $39,702
Plano avg aid: $15,063/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$57,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,000
vs HS diploma in Plano
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Plano
$409,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($467,500) minus total education cost ($57,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Plano
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Plano for Chemistry
Collin College University Center
public
$2,220/yr
$8,880 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Collin College
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Plano
Plano offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Plano Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$63K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$66K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$57K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$59K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$56K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$51K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$51K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$45K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Plano
Prompt Engineering
$43K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$72K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$75K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$68K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Plano — 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 Plano.