Chemistry Degree in Santa Ana, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Santa Ana, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Santa Ana
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Santa Ana, CA Overview
Santa Ana is one of California's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 9,823. Public tuition averages $1,540/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 Santa Ana is approximately $66,550, growing to $102,850 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$1,540/yr
Private Tuition
$44,205/yr
Room & Board
$17,583/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,688/yr
Unemployment
6.1%
Graduation Rate
74%
Chemistry Salary in Santa Ana (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Ana's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Santa Ana adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Santa Ana
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Santa Ana tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $1,540 | Private avg: $44,205
Santa Ana avg aid: $15,688/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,492
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,200
vs HS diploma in Santa Ana
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Ana
$589,008
Lifetime earnings premium ($665,500) minus total education cost ($76,492)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Santa Ana
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Ana for Chemistry
Santa Ana College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Ana College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Santa Ana
Santa Ana offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana
Prompt Engineering
$61K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$115K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$103K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$106K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$99K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$103K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$97K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Santa Ana — 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 Santa Ana.