Business Administration Degree in Salem, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Salem, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$106K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Salem
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Salem, OR Overview
Salem, Oregon (pop. 175,535) has 14 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,384/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Salem is approximately $69,600, growing to $105,600 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,943/yr
Private Tuition
$46,250/yr
Room & Board
$15,380/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,172/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Business Administration Salary in Salem (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salem's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Salem adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Salem
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Salem tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,943 | Private avg: $46,250
Salem avg aid: $14,172/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$113,292
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,600
vs HS diploma in Salem
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salem
$666,708
Lifetime earnings premium ($780,000) minus total education cost ($113,292)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Salem
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salem for Business Administration
Willamette University
private
$46,250/yr
$185,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chemeketa Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Salem
Salem offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salem Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$65K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$75K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$64K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$67K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$62K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$61K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$64K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$70K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Salem
Business Analytics
$94K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$78K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$60K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$74K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Salem — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Salem.