Music Education Degree in Bellevue, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Bellevue, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$89K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Bellevue
Cost of Living
178.5
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Bellevue, WA Overview
Bellevue, Washington (pop. 151,854) has 6 colleges offering Music Education programs. The local cost of living index of 178.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $3,300/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 Bellevue is approximately $89,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,115/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,339/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Music Education Salary in Bellevue (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bellevue's cost of living index of 178.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Bellevue adjustment factor: 1.78x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Bellevue
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Bellevue tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Bellevue avg aid: $12,339/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$119,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,775
vs HS diploma in Bellevue
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bellevue
$326,590
Lifetime earnings premium ($446,250) minus total education cost ($119,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Bellevue
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bellevue for Music Education
Bellevue State University
public
$11,349/yr
$45,396 total
University of Bellevue
public
$11,803/yr
$47,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bellevue Community College
$7,512/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Bellevue
Bellevue offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bellevue Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Bellevue
Instructional Design & Technology
$89K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$89K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$89K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$89K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$89K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$89K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$89K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Bellevue — 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 Bellevue.