Physics Degree in Tulsa, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Tulsa, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$88K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Tulsa
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Tulsa, OK Overview
Tulsa, Oklahoma (pop. 413,066) has 15 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, 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 Tulsa is approximately $52,080, growing to $88,200 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$6,582/yr
Private Tuition
$38,753/yr
Room & Board
$10,330/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,592/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
64%
Physics Salary in Tulsa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tulsa's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Tulsa adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Tulsa
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Tulsa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,582 | Private avg: $38,753
Tulsa avg aid: $7,592/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,680
vs HS diploma in Tulsa
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tulsa
$562,352
Lifetime earnings premium ($630,000) minus total education cost ($67,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Tulsa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tulsa for Physics
University of Tulsa
private
$44,726/yr
$178,904 total
Oral Roberts University
private
$32,780/yr
$131,120 total
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa
public
$6,582/yr
$26,328 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tulsa Community College
$3,558/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Tulsa
Tulsa offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tulsa Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$60K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Norman, OK
$53K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$57K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$59K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$51K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$55K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$56K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$54K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Tulsa
Prompt Engineering
$42K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$71K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$74K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Tulsa — 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 Tulsa.