Chemistry Degree in Vancouver, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Vancouver, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$92K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Vancouver
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Vancouver, WA Overview
Vancouver, Washington (pop. 190,915) has 7 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,260/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 Vancouver is approximately $59,675, growing to $92,225 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,054/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,206/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Chemistry Salary in Vancouver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Vancouver's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Vancouver adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Vancouver
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Vancouver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Vancouver avg aid: $15,206/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,416
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,700
vs HS diploma in Vancouver
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Vancouver
$489,334
Lifetime earnings premium ($596,750) minus total education cost ($107,416)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Vancouver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Vancouver for Chemistry
Vancouver State University
public
$12,455/yr
$49,820 total
University of Vancouver
public
$11,321/yr
$45,284 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Vancouver Community College
$6,084/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Vancouver
Vancouver offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Vancouver Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$66K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$67K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$62K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$98K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$64K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$65K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$67K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$68K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Vancouver
Prompt Engineering
$54K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$103K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$92K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$95K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$89K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$87K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Vancouver — 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 Vancouver.