Physics Degree in Norfolk, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Norfolk, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Norfolk
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Norfolk, VA Overview
Norfolk, Virginia (pop. 238,005) has 16 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $956/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Norfolk is approximately $57,660, growing to $97,650 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$10,571/yr
Private Tuition
$25,348/yr
Room & Board
$9,443/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,816/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Physics Salary in Norfolk (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Norfolk's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Norfolk adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Norfolk
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Norfolk tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,571 | Private avg: $25,348
Norfolk avg aid: $15,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,056
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,110
vs HS diploma in Norfolk
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Norfolk
$617,444
Lifetime earnings premium ($697,500) minus total education cost ($80,056)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Norfolk
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Norfolk for Physics
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Norfolk State University
public
$9,932/yr
$39,728 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Norfolk
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Norfolk
Norfolk offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Norfolk 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
Chesapeake, VA
$56K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$88K starting · COL 142.5
9 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 Norfolk
Prompt Engineering
$47K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$79K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$82K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Norfolk — 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 Norfolk.