Music Education Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music Education students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/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 Renton is approximately $61,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Music Education Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,375
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$195,358
Lifetime earnings premium ($306,250) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Music Education
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton 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
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Renton
Instructional Design & Technology
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$61K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$61K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.