Physics Degree in Syracuse, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Syracuse, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$85K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$144K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.7 yrs
in Syracuse
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Syracuse, NY Overview
Syracuse, New York (pop. 148,620) has 10 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 137 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,093/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Syracuse is approximately $84,940, growing to $143,850 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$14,304/yr
Private Tuition
$57,750/yr
Room & Board
$19,896/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,141/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Physics Salary in Syracuse (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Syracuse's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Syracuse adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Syracuse
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Syracuse tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,304 | Private avg: $57,750
Syracuse avg aid: $16,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$136,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,990
vs HS diploma in Syracuse
ROI Payback Period
3.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Syracuse
$890,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,027,500) minus total education cost ($136,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Syracuse
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Syracuse for Physics
Syracuse University
private
$57,750/yr
$231,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Onondaga Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Syracuse
Syracuse offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Syracuse Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$103K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$116K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$90K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$76K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$88K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$94K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$90K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$87K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Syracuse
Prompt Engineering
$69K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$130K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$116K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$121K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$112K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$116K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$110K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Syracuse — 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 Syracuse.