Physics Degree in Salem, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Salem, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$74K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Salem
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Salem, OR Overview
Salem, Oregon (pop. 175,535) has 14 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,384/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Salem is approximately $74,400, growing to $126,000 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,943/yr
Private Tuition
$46,250/yr
Room & Board
$15,380/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,172/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Physics Salary in Salem (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salem's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Salem adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Salem
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Salem tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,943 | Private avg: $46,250
Salem avg aid: $14,172/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$113,292
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,400
vs HS diploma in Salem
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salem
$786,708
Lifetime earnings premium ($900,000) minus total education cost ($113,292)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Salem
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salem for Physics
Willamette University
private
$46,250/yr
$185,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chemeketa Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Salem
Salem offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salem Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$69K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$81K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$68K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$72K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$66K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$66K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$69K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$75K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Salem
Prompt Engineering
$60K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$114K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$102K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$106K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$98K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$96K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Salem — 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 Salem.