Cinematography Degree in Irvine, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Cinematography degree analysis for Irvine, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.1 yrs
in Irvine
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Cinematography in Irvine, CA Overview
Irvine is one of California's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 16,104. Public tuition averages $13,752/year here — near the national average for public universities. Cinematography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Camera Systems and Lighting. The adjusted starting salary in Irvine is approximately $59,950, growing to $92,650 by mid-career.
Category
Arts
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$13,752/yr
Private Tuition
$33,606/yr
Room & Board
$19,564/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,909/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Cinematography Salary in Irvine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Irvine's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cinematography salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Irvine adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Cinematography ROI Calculator for Irvine
Estimate your return on investment for a Cinematography degree using local Irvine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,752 | Private avg: $33,606
Irvine avg aid: $8,909/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$133,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,800
vs HS diploma in Irvine
ROI Payback Period
6.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Irvine
$-24,264
Lifetime earnings premium ($109,000) minus total education cost ($133,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Cinematography in Irvine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Irvine for Cinematography
University of California, Irvine
public
$13,752/yr
$55,008 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Irvine Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Cinematography in Irvine
Irvine offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cinematography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Irvine Hiring Sectors for Arts
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cinematography Job Titles
Cinematography in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$78K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$77K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$71K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$63K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$65K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$62K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$64K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$73K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Cinematography Degree in Irvine — 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 Cinematography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Irvine.