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Physical Sciences · Chemistry Rank #55 of 205

Chemistryat University of Utah

Graduates earn $41,275/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $631K; scenarios range from $565K to $640K depending on AI disruption.

Salt Lake City, UT Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
63
Optimistic
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,275
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$631K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Utah

Graduates earn $41,275/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.9x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $41,275 far exceeding the $15,921 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #55 out of 205 programs, University of Utah's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $41,275 to $66,729 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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
$565K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple15.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$631K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple16.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$640K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple17.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Utah'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 University of Utah 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
Montclair State University
NJ · Public
56
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
8.4x
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
Also at University of Utah

Other top programs at University of Utah

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Utah, 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 University of Utah

How does University of Utah'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.