Chemistry Degree in Tulsa, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Tulsa, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Tulsa
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Tulsa, OK Overview
Tulsa, Oklahoma (pop. 413,066) has 15 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,113/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 Tulsa is approximately $46,200, growing to $71,400 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$6,582/yr
Private Tuition
$38,753/yr
Room & Board
$10,330/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,592/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
64%
Chemistry Salary in Tulsa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tulsa's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Tulsa adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Tulsa
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Tulsa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,582 | Private avg: $38,753
Tulsa avg aid: $7,592/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,800
vs HS diploma in Tulsa
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tulsa
$394,352
Lifetime earnings premium ($462,000) minus total education cost ($67,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Tulsa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tulsa for Chemistry
University of Tulsa
private
$44,726/yr
$178,904 total
Oral Roberts University
private
$32,780/yr
$131,120 total
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa
public
$6,582/yr
$26,328 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tulsa Community College
$3,558/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Tulsa
Tulsa offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tulsa Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$53K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Norman, OK
$47K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$50K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$52K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$45K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$49K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$50K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$48K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Tulsa
Prompt Engineering
$42K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$71K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$74K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Tulsa — 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 Tulsa.