Physics Degree in Fresno, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Fresno, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$124K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Fresno
Cost of Living
118
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Fresno, CA Overview
Fresno is one of California's top college towns, with 37 institutions and a student population of 23,836. Public tuition averages $7,302/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Fresno is approximately $73,160, growing to $123,900 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
37
Public Tuition
$7,302/yr
Private Tuition
$24,820/yr
Room & Board
$16,283/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,988/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
65%
Physics Salary in Fresno (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fresno's cost of living index of 118 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Fresno adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Fresno
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Fresno tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,302 | Private avg: $24,820
Fresno avg aid: $12,988/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,340
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,860
vs HS diploma in Fresno
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fresno
$790,660
Lifetime earnings premium ($885,000) minus total education cost ($94,340)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Fresno
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fresno for Physics
California State University, Fresno
public
$7,302/yr
$29,208 total
Fresno Pacific University
private
$36,320/yr
$145,280 total
National University Fresno
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fresno City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Fresno
Fresno offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fresno 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
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
Bakersfield, CA
$83K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Fresno
Prompt Engineering
$59K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$112K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$100K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$104K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$97K 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 Fresno — 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 Fresno.