Chemistry Degree in Tempe, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Tempe, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$62K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$96K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Tempe
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Tempe, AZ Overview
While Tempe has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Chemistry students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,552/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Tempe is approximately $62,150, growing to $96,050 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$40,205/yr
Room & Board
$19,552/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,200/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
Chemistry Salary in Tempe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tempe's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Tempe adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Tempe
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Tempe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $40,205
Tempe avg aid: $15,200/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$128,076
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,600
vs HS diploma in Tempe
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tempe
$493,424
Lifetime earnings premium ($621,500) minus total education cost ($128,076)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Tempe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tempe for Chemistry
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rio Salado College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Tempe
Tempe offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tempe Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$84K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$64K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$61K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$68K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$65K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$58K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$69K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$57K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Tempe
Prompt Engineering
$57K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$107K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$96K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$99K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$93K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$90K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Tempe — 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 Tempe.