Music Education Degree in Arlington, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Arlington, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
142.5
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Arlington, VA Overview
Arlington, Virginia (pop. 238,643) has 9 colleges offering Music Education programs. The local cost of living index of 142.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,040/month. Although national enrollment in Music Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Music Theory and Conducting remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $71,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,293/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,637/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
60%
Music Education Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 142.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 1.43x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Arlington avg aid: $10,637/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,972
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,375
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$234,278
Lifetime earnings premium ($356,250) minus total education cost ($121,972)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Music Education
Arlington State University
public
$14,920/yr
$59,680 total
University of Arlington
public
$14,115/yr
$56,460 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$6,397/yr
Virginia Technical College - Arlington
$5,927/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$50K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Arlington
Instructional Design & Technology
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$71K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$71K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$71K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$71K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Arlington — 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 Music Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.