Physics Degree in Saint Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Saint Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$63K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$107K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Saint Paul
Cost of Living
101.5
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Saint Paul, MN Overview
Saint Paul, Minnesota (pop. 311,527) has 11 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 101.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Saint Paul is approximately $62,930, growing to $106,575 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,478/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
47%
Physics Salary in Saint Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Saint Paul's cost of living index of 101.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Saint Paul adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Saint Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Saint Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Saint Paul avg aid: $13,478/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,484
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,405
vs HS diploma in Saint Paul
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Saint Paul
$651,766
Lifetime earnings premium ($761,250) minus total education cost ($109,484)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Saint Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Saint Paul for Physics
Saint Paul State University
public
$13,811/yr
$55,244 total
University of Saint Paul
public
$13,351/yr
$53,404 total
Saint Paul Institute of Technology
private
$43,387/yr
$173,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul Community College
$5,443/yr
Minnesota Technical College - Saint Paul
$5,156/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Saint Paul
Saint Paul offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Saint Paul Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$60K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$67K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$65K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$62K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$62K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$61K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$67K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$67K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Saint Paul
Prompt Engineering
$51K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$96K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$86K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$89K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$81K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Saint Paul — 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 Saint Paul.