Physics Degree in Chesapeake, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Chesapeake, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$96K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Chesapeake
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Chesapeake, VA Overview
Chesapeake, Virginia (pop. 249,422) has 12 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $850/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Chesapeake is approximately $56,420, growing to $95,550 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,558/yr
Private Tuition
$19,500/yr
Room & Board
$9,787/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,853/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
67%
Physics Salary in Chesapeake (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chesapeake's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Chesapeake adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Chesapeake
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Chesapeake tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,558 | Private avg: $19,500
Chesapeake avg aid: $9,853/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,380
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,570
vs HS diploma in Chesapeake
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chesapeake
$597,120
Lifetime earnings premium ($682,500) minus total education cost ($85,380)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Chesapeake
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chesapeake for Physics
South University Virginia Beach
private
$19,500/yr
$78,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Chesapeake
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Chesapeake
Chesapeake offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chesapeake Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$55K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Arlington, VA
$88K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$58K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$62K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$57K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$63K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$60K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$55K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Chesapeake
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$86K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$77K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$80K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Chesapeake — 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 Chesapeake.