Chemistryat University of California-Davis
Graduates earn $42,204/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $760K; scenarios range from $657K to $777K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Davis
University of California-Davis's Chemistry program produces graduates earning $42,204/yr — within striking distance of the $41,256 national average for this field.
The 12.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,000 in median debt clears quickly against $42,204 in annual earnings.
Ranked #49 out of 205 programs, University of California-Davis's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $42,204 to $81,776 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Davis's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Chemistry
How UC Davis stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Davis
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Davis, 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 →Frequently asked about Chemistry at UC Davis
How does University of California-Davis's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 62/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Chemistry graduates.
How vulnerable is Chemistry to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Chemistry careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of California-Davis rank so high for Chemistry?
The #49 ranking out of 205 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.