Cinematography Degree in Pasadena, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Cinematography degree analysis for Pasadena, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Pasadena
Cost of Living
88.5
index (100 = avg)
Cinematography in Pasadena, TX Overview
Pasadena, Texas (pop. 152,272) has 6 colleges offering Cinematography programs. The local cost of living index of 88.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $585/month. Cinematography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Camera Systems and Lighting. The adjusted starting salary in Pasadena is approximately $48,675, growing to $75,225 by mid-career.
Category
Arts
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,948/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,306/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
51%
Cinematography Salary in Pasadena (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pasadena's cost of living index of 88.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cinematography salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Pasadena adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Cinematography ROI Calculator for Pasadena
Estimate your return on investment for a Cinematography degree using local Pasadena tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Pasadena avg aid: $9,306/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,700
vs HS diploma in Pasadena
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pasadena
$-10,892
Lifetime earnings premium ($88,500) minus total education cost ($99,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Cinematography in Pasadena
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pasadena for Cinematography
Pasadena State University
public
$10,249/yr
$40,996 total
University of Pasadena
public
$12,075/yr
$48,300 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pasadena Community College
$5,344/yr
Top Employers for Cinematography in Pasadena
Pasadena offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cinematography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pasadena Hiring Sectors for Arts
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cinematography Job Titles
Cinematography in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$63K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$66K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$57K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$59K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$56K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$51K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$51K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$45K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Cinematography Degree in Pasadena — 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 Pasadena.