Physics Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$74K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$125K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Riverside is approximately $73,780, growing to $124,950 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Physics Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,130
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$767,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($892,500) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Physics
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside 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 Riverside
Prompt Engineering
$60K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$113K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$101K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$105K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$98K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$101K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$95K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.