by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find where chemistry graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send chemistry graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in chemistry, no school beat Eastern Washington University this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Eastern Washington University typically earn about $67,089 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Western Washington University earned it the #2 place for chemistry. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $77,595 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Central Washington University earned it the #3 place for chemistry. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,029.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned it the #4 place for chemistry. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Washington Bothell Campus make a median of around $68,591 per year.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the highest-paying schools for chemistry. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,048.
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #6 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from Pacific Lutheran University make a median of around $44,555 per year.
Whitworth University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spokane. Chemistry graduates of Whitworth University earn a median of about $33,203 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries chemistry graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 7 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.