Chemistry Degree in Santa Clarita, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Santa Clarita, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$81K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Santa Clarita
Cost of Living
148.1
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Santa Clarita, CA Overview
Santa Clarita, California (pop. 228,673) has 9 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 148.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,100/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 Santa Clarita is approximately $81,455, growing to $125,885 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,381/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,814/yr
Unemployment
5.5%
Graduation Rate
66%
Chemistry Salary in Santa Clarita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Clarita's cost of living index of 148.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Santa Clarita adjustment factor: 1.48x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Santa Clarita
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Santa Clarita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Santa Clarita avg aid: $11,814/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,524
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$29,620
vs HS diploma in Santa Clarita
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Clarita
$691,026
Lifetime earnings premium ($814,550) minus total education cost ($123,524)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Santa Clarita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Clarita for Chemistry
Santa Clarita State University
public
$13,263/yr
$53,052 total
University of Santa Clarita
public
$16,216/yr
$64,864 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Clarita Community College
$6,330/yr
California Technical College - Santa Clarita
$5,900/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Clarita 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 Clarita
Prompt Engineering
$74K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$141K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$126K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$130K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$121K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$126K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$118K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Santa Clarita — 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 Clarita.