Music Education Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music Education degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Music Education in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Music Education programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/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 Richmond is approximately $50,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Music Education Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Music Education ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Music Education degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$147,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($250,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Music Education in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Music Education
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Music Education in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Music Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Music Education Job Titles
Music Education in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Richmond
Instructional Design & Technology
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$50K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$50K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Physical Education
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$50K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Music Education Degree in Richmond — 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 Richmond.