Music Degree in Bellevue, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Bellevue, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.4 yrs
in Bellevue
Cost of Living
178.5
index (100 = avg)
Music in Bellevue, WA Overview
Bellevue, Washington (pop. 151,854) has 6 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 178.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $3,300/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 Bellevue is approximately $71,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,115/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,339/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Music Salary in Bellevue (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bellevue's cost of living index of 178.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Bellevue adjustment factor: 1.78x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Bellevue
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Bellevue tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Bellevue avg aid: $12,339/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$119,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,925
vs HS diploma in Bellevue
ROI Payback Period
13.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bellevue
$58,840
Lifetime earnings premium ($178,500) minus total education cost ($119,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Bellevue
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bellevue for Music
Bellevue State University
public
$11,349/yr
$45,396 total
University of Bellevue
public
$11,803/yr
$47,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bellevue Community College
$7,512/yr
Top Employers for Music in Bellevue
Bellevue offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bellevue Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$48K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$48K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$45K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$43K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Kent, WA
$46K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$47K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$49K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$49K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Bellevue
Chinese Studies
$98K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$89K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$79K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$89K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$75K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$79K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$89K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$75K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Bellevue — 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 Bellevue.