Chemistry Degree in Winston-Salem, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Winston-Salem, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$90K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Winston-Salem, NC Overview
Winston-Salem is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 26 institutions and a student population of 19,225. Public tuition averages $6,432/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 Winston-Salem is approximately $58,300, growing to $90,100 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
26
Public Tuition
$6,432/yr
Private Tuition
$60,894/yr
Room & Board
$11,486/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,995/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
70%
Chemistry Salary in Winston-Salem (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Winston-Salem's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Winston-Salem adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Winston-Salem
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Winston-Salem tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,432 | Private avg: $60,894
Winston-Salem avg aid: $16,995/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$71,672
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,200
vs HS diploma in Winston-Salem
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Winston-Salem
$511,328
Lifetime earnings premium ($583,000) minus total education cost ($71,672)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Winston-Salem
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Winston-Salem for Chemistry
Wake Forest University
private
$60,894/yr
$243,576 total
Winston-Salem State University
public
$6,432/yr
$25,728 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Forsyth Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Winston-Salem Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$49K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$46K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$50K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$60K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$50K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$60K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$52K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$46K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Winston-Salem
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$101K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$90K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$93K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$87K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$85K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Winston-Salem — 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 Winston-Salem.