Physics Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$133K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Santa Rosa is approximately $78,740, growing to $133,350 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Physics Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,290
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$871,492
Lifetime earnings premium ($952,500) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Physics
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa
Prompt Engineering
$64K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$121K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$108K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$112K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$104K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$108K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$102K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Santa Rosa — 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 Santa Rosa.