Chemistry Degree in Tucson, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Tucson, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Tucson
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Tucson, AZ Overview
Tucson is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 21,782. Public tuition averages $7,664/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 Tucson is approximately $63,800, growing to $98,600 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$7,664/yr
Private Tuition
$31,536/yr
Room & Board
$18,163/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,106/yr
Unemployment
3.7%
Graduation Rate
67%
Chemistry Salary in Tucson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tucson's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Tucson adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Tucson
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Tucson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,664 | Private avg: $31,536
Tucson avg aid: $14,106/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,308
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$23,200
vs HS diploma in Tucson
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tucson
$534,692
Lifetime earnings premium ($638,000) minus total education cost ($103,308)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Tucson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tucson for Chemistry
University of Arizona
public
$12,748/yr
$50,992 total
Pima Community College
public
$2,580/yr
$10,320 total
Prescott College
private
$31,536/yr
$126,144 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pima Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Tucson
Tucson offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tucson 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
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
Tempe, AZ
$62K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Tucson
Prompt Engineering
$58K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$110K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$99K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$102K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$95K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$93K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$58K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Tucson — 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 Tucson.