Music Education Degree in Kent, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Kent, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Kent
Cost of Living
115.8
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Kent, WA Overview
Kent, Washington (pop. 136,588) has 6 colleges offering Music Education programs. The local cost of living index of 115.8 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,440/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 Kent is approximately $57,900.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,433/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,467/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Music Education Salary in Kent (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kent's cost of living index of 115.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Kent adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Kent
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Kent tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Kent avg aid: $12,467/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,370
vs HS diploma in Kent
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kent
$184,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($289,500) minus total education cost ($104,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Kent
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kent for Music Education
Kent State University
public
$12,886/yr
$51,544 total
University of Kent
public
$10,829/yr
$43,316 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kent Community College
$5,759/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Kent
Kent offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kent 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
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
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 Kent
Instructional Design & Technology
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$58K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$58K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$58K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$58K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$58K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$58K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Kent — 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 Kent.