Music Degree in Chesapeake, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Chesapeake, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$36K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$50K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.8 yrs
in Chesapeake
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Music in Chesapeake, VA Overview
Chesapeake, Virginia (pop. 249,422) has 12 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $850/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 Chesapeake is approximately $36,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,558/yr
Private Tuition
$19,500/yr
Room & Board
$9,787/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,853/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
67%
Music Salary in Chesapeake (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chesapeake's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Chesapeake adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Chesapeake
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Chesapeake tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,558 | Private avg: $19,500
Chesapeake avg aid: $9,853/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,380
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,550
vs HS diploma in Chesapeake
ROI Payback Period
18.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chesapeake
$5,620
Lifetime earnings premium ($91,000) minus total education cost ($85,380)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Chesapeake
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chesapeake for Music
South University Virginia Beach
private
$19,500/yr
$78,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Chesapeake
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Music in Chesapeake
Chesapeake offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chesapeake Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$35K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Arlington, VA
$57K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$37K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$40K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$37K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$41K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$39K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$35K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Chesapeake
Chinese Studies
$50K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$40K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$38K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$40K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$38K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Chesapeake — 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 Chesapeake.