Chemistry Degree in Sunnyvale, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Sunnyvale, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$109K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$169K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
198.4
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Sunnyvale, CA Overview
Sunnyvale, California (pop. 155,805) has 6 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 198.4 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $4,500/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 Sunnyvale is approximately $109,120, growing to $168,640 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,170/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,053/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
56%
Chemistry Salary in Sunnyvale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sunnyvale's cost of living index of 198.4 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Sunnyvale adjustment factor: 1.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Sunnyvale
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Sunnyvale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Sunnyvale avg aid: $15,053/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$130,680
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,680
vs HS diploma in Sunnyvale
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sunnyvale
$960,520
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,091,200) minus total education cost ($130,680)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Sunnyvale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sunnyvale for Chemistry
Sunnyvale State University
public
$15,876/yr
$63,504 total
University of Sunnyvale
public
$15,339/yr
$61,356 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sunnyvale Community College
$7,102/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale
Prompt Engineering
$99K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$188K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$169K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$175K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$163K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$169K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$99K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$159K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Sunnyvale — 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 Sunnyvale.