Physics Degree in Elk Grove, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Elk Grove, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$76K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$128K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.7 yrs
in Elk Grove
Cost of Living
122.1
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Elk Grove, CA Overview
Elk Grove, California (pop. 176,124) has 7 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 122.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,620/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Elk Grove is approximately $75,702, growing to $128,205 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,727/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,323/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Physics Salary in Elk Grove (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elk Grove's cost of living index of 122.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Elk Grove adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Elk Grove
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Elk Grove tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Elk Grove avg aid: $14,323/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,908
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,967
vs HS diploma in Elk Grove
ROI Payback Period
3.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elk Grove
$794,842
Lifetime earnings premium ($915,750) minus total education cost ($120,908)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Elk Grove
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elk Grove for Physics
Elk Grove State University
public
$14,642/yr
$58,568 total
University of Elk Grove
public
$14,455/yr
$57,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elk Grove Community College
$5,858/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Elk Grove
Elk Grove offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove
Prompt Engineering
$61K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$116K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$104K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$107K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$100K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$104K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$98K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Elk Grove — 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 Elk Grove.