Chemistry Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Worcester, MA. 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
6.3 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/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 Worcester is approximately $64,350, growing to $99,450 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Chemistry Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$23,400
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$496,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($643,500) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for Chemistry
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$75K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Springfield, MA
$73K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$73K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$62K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$60K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$71K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$56K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$65K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Worcester
Prompt Engineering
$59K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$111K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$99K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$103K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$96K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$94K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Worcester — 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 Worcester.