Chemistry Degree in Springfield, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Springfield, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Springfield, IL Overview
Springfield, Illinois (pop. 114,394) has 9 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $642/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 Springfield is approximately $50,600, growing to $78,200 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$12,413/yr
Private Tuition
$27,201/yr
Room & Board
$13,584/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,401/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
61%
Chemistry Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,413 | Private avg: $27,201
Springfield avg aid: $7,401/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,400
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$402,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($506,000) minus total education cost ($103,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Chemistry
University of Illinois Springfield
public
$12,413/yr
$49,652 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lincoln Land Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$60K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$51K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$59K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$56K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$50K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$43K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Peoria, IL
$57K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$50K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Springfield
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$87K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$78K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$81K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.