Music Education Degree in Chattanooga, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Chattanooga, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$44K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Chattanooga
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Chattanooga, TN Overview
While Chattanooga has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music Education students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,210/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Chattanooga is approximately $40,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,648/yr
Private Tuition
$39,466/yr
Room & Board
$12,210/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,310/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Music Education Salary in Chattanooga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Chattanooga adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Chattanooga
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Chattanooga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,648 | Private avg: $39,466
Chattanooga avg aid: $9,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Chattanooga
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chattanooga
$112,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($200,000) minus total education cost ($87,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Chattanooga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chattanooga for Music Education
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
public
$9,648/yr
$38,592 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chattanooga State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chattanooga Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Education Majors in Chattanooga
Instructional Design & Technology
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$40K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$40K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Chattanooga — 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 Chattanooga.