Physics Degree in Tempe, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Tempe, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$119K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Tempe
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Tempe, AZ Overview
While Tempe has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Physics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,552/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Tempe is approximately $70,060, growing to $118,650 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$40,205/yr
Room & Board
$19,552/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,200/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
Physics Salary in Tempe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tempe's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Tempe adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Tempe
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Tempe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $40,205
Tempe avg aid: $15,200/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$128,076
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,510
vs HS diploma in Tempe
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tempe
$719,424
Lifetime earnings premium ($847,500) minus total education cost ($128,076)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Tempe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tempe for Physics
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rio Salado College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Tempe
Tempe offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tempe Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$94K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$72K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$68K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$77K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$74K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$65K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$78K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$64K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Tempe
Prompt Engineering
$57K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$107K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$96K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$99K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$93K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$90K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$57K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Tempe — 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 Tempe.