Music Education Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Chicago is approximately $54,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Music Education Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$176,768
Lifetime earnings premium ($272,500) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Music Education
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Chicago
Instructional Design & Technology
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$55K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$55K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$55K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Chicago — 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 Chicago.