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Physical Sciences · Chemistry Rank #112 of 205

Chemistryat Montclair State University

Graduates earn $55,389/yr in their first year — about 34.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $569K; scenarios range from $520K to $574K depending on AI disruption.

Montclair, NJ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
56 SOLID
56
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$55,389
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$569K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Montclair State University

The robust earnings potential for Montclair State's Chemistry program reflects a strategic advantage rooted in its location and a likely emphasis on applied skills. Situated within a bustling corridor of pharmaceutical, biotech, and specialized materials science companies, graduates have direct access to a strong regional labor market. Many students successfully transition into roles that blend foundational chemical knowledge with advanced analytical or computational skills, driving demand in areas like data science for drug discovery or materials informatics. This positions you well for high-value careers where you're not just performing lab work, but leveraging chemistry to solve complex problems. To truly capitalize on this, actively pursue internships with local industry leaders and consider pairing your core chemistry studies with coursework in data analytics or programming. This combination will make you exceptionally competitive for specialized roles as the field continues to evolve.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$520K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple8.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$569K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple9.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$574K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple9.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Montclair State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Chemistry graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Computer and information research scientists
+19.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$140,910/yr
High
3
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
4
Computer occupations, all other
+8.2% 10-yr growth · 31,300 openings/yr
$108,970/yr
High
5
Physics teachers, postsecondary
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$97,360/yr
Moderate
6
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$87,710/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Chemistry

How Montclair State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
64
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
10.0x
ROI
Bridgewater State University
MA · Public
72
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
17.2x
ROI
University of Delaware
DE · Public
66
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
Towson University
MD · Public
70
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
16.5x
ROI
Also at Montclair State University

Other top programs at Montclair State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Montclair State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Chemistry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Chemistry at Montclair State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at Montclair State University?

This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemistry programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Chemistry careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $519,758 in decade earnings vs $573,714 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.