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 6 schools to find where chemistry graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose chemistry graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in chemistry, no school beat East Tennessee State University this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $63,871 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in chemistry will find them at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #2. Tennessee Technological University is a public school located in the town of Cookeville. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,440.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Memphis earned it the #3 place for chemistry. University Of Memphis is a public school located in the city of Memphis. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Memphis make a median of around $74,721 per year.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the highest-paying schools for chemistry. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Early-career chemistry graduates from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga make a median of around $61,703 per year.
The University Of Tennessee produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemistry, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,622.
Austin Peay State University landed the #6 spot for chemistry salaries this year. Austin Peay State University is a public school located in the city of Clarksville. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Austin Peay State University typically earn about $54,314 annually.
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 · 6 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.