Music Degree in Bakersfield, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Bakersfield, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.1 yrs
in Bakersfield
Cost of Living
134
index (100 = avg)
Music in Bakersfield, CA Overview
Bakersfield, California (pop. 403,455) has 18 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 134 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,090/month. Although national enrollment in Music has been declining, graduates with skills in Performance and Music Theory remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Bakersfield is approximately $53,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$7,309/yr
Private Tuition
$35,366/yr
Room & Board
$18,003/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,787/yr
Unemployment
6.3%
Graduation Rate
48%
Music Salary in Bakersfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bakersfield's cost of living index of 134 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Bakersfield adjustment factor: 1.34x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Bakersfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Bakersfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,309 | Private avg: $35,366
Bakersfield avg aid: $13,787/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,248
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,700
vs HS diploma in Bakersfield
ROI Payback Period
15.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bakersfield
$32,752
Lifetime earnings premium ($134,000) minus total education cost ($101,248)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Bakersfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bakersfield for Music
California State University, Bakersfield
public
$7,309/yr
$29,236 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bakersfield College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Music in Bakersfield
Bakersfield offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bakersfield Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Bakersfield
Chinese Studies
$74K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$67K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$67K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$56K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$59K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$67K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Bakersfield — 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 ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Bakersfield.