STEM Specialization

Chemistry

Chemistry graduates earn $65,120 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 33.5%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Data Scientist is among the highest-growth roles in the field.

About Chemistry

Chemistry is a focused area of study within Physical Sciences. Graduates typically earn around $65,120 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 1,380 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 19,976 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.


Median Earnings · 1yr
$42,677
Median Earnings · 4yr
$65,120
Colleges Offering
1,380
Graduates / Year
19,976
Avg Net Price / yr
$16,355

How Much Do Chemistry Graduates Earn?

Chemistry graduates earn $65,120 four years out, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,307 and $84,018. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $42,677 climbs to $65,120 by year four.

$42,677
1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$65,120
4-Year National Median

Above the national median for college graduates.

$66,171
4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.


Earnings Range

There is a wide earnings spread across Chemistry graduates. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.


Why This Program Pays Off Fast

Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $65,120 against an estimated $65,420 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.

Based on outcomes from 1,174 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 19,976 students who complete Chemistry programs each year, the majority (67%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Bachelor's 67%
Doctorate 16%
Master's 12%

What Can You Do With a Chemistry Degree?

Chemistry connects to 8 occupations in the job market. Natural Sciences Managers leads at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

↗ +3.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$167,220
$119K $222K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 8,500 openings/yr 109K employed nationally
Science Reading Comprehension Active Listening Reading Comprehension Active Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

  • Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
  • Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
  • Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
↗ +19.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$140,300
$104K $189K 25th–75th pct.
Master's degree 3,200 openings/yr 37K employed nationally
Judgment and Decision Making Critical Thinking Complex Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Active Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

  • Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
  • Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
  • Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
↗ +33.5% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$120,230
$86K $159K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 23,400 openings/yr 262K employed nationally
Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking
Day-to-day responsibilities

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

  • Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.
  • Maintain or update business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards, systems, or methods.
  • Manage timely flow of business intelligence information to users.
↗ +2.5% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$100,310
$74K $133K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 1,300 openings/yr 13K employed nationally
Instructing Science Speaking Reading Comprehension Learning Strategies
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
↗ +2.9% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$94,980
$70K $127K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 700 openings/yr 7K employed nationally
Speaking Reading Comprehension Instructing Active Listening Writing
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
↗ +2.2% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$93,250
$69K $127K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 1,900 openings/yr 20K employed nationally
Speaking Writing Reading Comprehension Learning Strategies Monitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
  • Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
↗ +4.9% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$91,240
$69K $126K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 6,300 openings/yr 83K employed nationally
Science Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Speaking Active Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

  • Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
  • Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
  • Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
↗ +4.4% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$82,220
$64K $108K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 8,500 openings/yr 89K employed nationally
Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Writing Speaking Critical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

  • Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
  • Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
  • Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.

Top Colleges for Chemistry

The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Chemistry students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public 325 26.7% $12,470 $84,943
2 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public 234 45.2% $17,354 $73,792
3 University of Florida Gainesville, FL · Public 217 24.2% $6,541 $71,588
4 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public 198 11% $13,481 $92,446
5 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public 170 15.3% $11,655 $72,200
6 University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA · Public 167 28.6% $14,251 $80,735
7 University of Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit 164 4.5% $14,860 $91,885
8 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public 162 9% $12,548 $82,511
9 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public 160 42.4% $14,355 $81,054
10 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public 157 15.6% $13,138 $83,648
11 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN · Public 150 79.8% $16,778 $69,020
12 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public 148 33% $16,109 $74,915
13 New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit 146 9.2% $37,050 $82,509
14 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA · Public 144 16.8% $21,565 $86,863
15 University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public 141 41.8% $14,741 $80,838
16 Emory University Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit 138 10.7% $22,585 $80,137
17 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public 137 39.2% $14,091 $78,466
18 Harvard University Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit 135 3.7% $19,066 $101,817
19 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public 130 26.6% $19,857 $75,121
20 Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public 128 49.9% $14,600 $72,424

Ranked by Chemistry graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Chemistry program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Chemistry Degree: Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and positive career growth make Chemistry a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.

PROS
  • Above-average earnings Four-year median of $65,120 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
  • Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $42,677 at graduation to $65,120 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
  • Fast-growing field Related careers are projected to grow up to +33.5% over the next decade, with Data Scientist among the fastest-growing roles.
  • Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 53,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
  • Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.

Chemistry Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates earn a national median of $65,120 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,307 and $84,018. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Chemistry degree?
One year after graduation, Chemistry degree holders earn a median of $42,677. That climbs to $65,120 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree?
Chemistry degree holders pursue careers including Natural Sciences Managers, which pays a median of $167,220/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Chemistry program take?
A Chemistry bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Chemistry?
1,380 colleges and universities in the United States offer Chemistry programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Chemistry degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $65,120 and an average net price of roughly $16,355/yr, a Chemistry degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Chemistry and Physical Sciences?
Chemistry is a focused concentration within the broader Physical Sciences field. The Physical Sciences major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Chemistry-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Chemistry graduates?
Employers hiring Chemistry graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Chemistry graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Chemistry graduates?
The job outlook for Chemistry graduates is strong overall. Related occupations project an average of +9.2% job growth over the next 10 years. Data Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +33.5%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.

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