Physics Degree in Mobile, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Mobile, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.7 yrs
in Mobile
Cost of Living
98
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Mobile, AL Overview
Mobile, Alabama (pop. 187,041) has 12 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 98 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,083/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Mobile is approximately $60,760, growing to $102,900 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,100/yr
Private Tuition
$41,360/yr
Room & Board
$13,457/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,004/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
73%
Physics Salary in Mobile (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mobile's cost of living index of 98 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Mobile adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Mobile
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Mobile tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,100 | Private avg: $41,360
Mobile avg aid: $12,004/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,228
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,460
vs HS diploma in Mobile
ROI Payback Period
3.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mobile
$636,772
Lifetime earnings premium ($735,000) minus total education cost ($98,228)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Mobile
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mobile for Physics
University of South Alabama
public
$11,100/yr
$44,400 total
Spring Hill College
private
$41,360/yr
$165,440 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bishop State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Mobile
Mobile offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mobile Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$61K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Birmingham, AL
$55K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$57K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$48K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$59K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$64K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$51K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$51K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Mobile
Prompt Engineering
$49K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$93K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$83K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$86K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$80K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Mobile — 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 Mobile.