Physics Degree in Upper Darby, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Upper Darby, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.7 yrs
in Upper Darby
Cost of Living
94.5
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Upper Darby, PA Overview
While Upper Darby has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Physics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,171/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 Upper Darby is approximately $58,590, growing to $99,225 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$15,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,595/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
70%
Physics Salary in Upper Darby (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Upper Darby's cost of living index of 94.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Upper Darby adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Upper Darby
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Upper Darby tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Upper Darby avg aid: $12,595/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$118,684
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,515
vs HS diploma in Upper Darby
ROI Payback Period
4.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Upper Darby
$590,066
Lifetime earnings premium ($708,750) minus total education cost ($118,684)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Upper Darby
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Upper Darby for Physics
Upper Darby State University
public
$16,192/yr
$64,768 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Upper Darby Community College
$5,336/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Upper Darby
Upper Darby offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Upper Darby Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$93K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$71K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$70K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$73K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$74K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$74K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$78K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$57K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Upper Darby
Prompt Engineering
$47K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$90K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$80K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$83K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$77K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Upper Darby — 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 Upper Darby.