Physics Degree in Anaheim, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Anaheim, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$123K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Anaheim
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Anaheim, CA Overview
Anaheim, California (pop. 350,365) has 19 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,729/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Anaheim is approximately $72,540, growing to $122,850 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
19
Public Tuition
$6,920/yr
Private Tuition
$37,099/yr
Room & Board
$16,938/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,487/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
53%
Physics Salary in Anaheim (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Anaheim's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Anaheim adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Anaheim
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Anaheim tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,920 | Private avg: $37,099
Anaheim avg aid: $11,487/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,590
vs HS diploma in Anaheim
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Anaheim
$782,068
Lifetime earnings premium ($877,500) minus total education cost ($95,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Anaheim
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Anaheim for Physics
Cal State Fullerton
public
$6,920/yr
$27,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fullerton College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Anaheim
Anaheim offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Anaheim Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$87K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$87K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$80K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$71K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$73K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$69K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$72K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$82K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Anaheim
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
Physics Degree in Anaheim — 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 Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Anaheim.