Music Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.3 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Music in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Des Moines is approximately $36,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,977/yr
Private Tuition
$38,388/yr
Room & Board
$8,658/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,739/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
56%
Music Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Des Moines tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,977 | Private avg: $38,388
Des Moines avg aid: $9,739/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,540
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,600
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
15.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$21,460
Lifetime earnings premium ($92,000) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Music
Drake University
private
$45,520/yr
$182,080 total
Grand View University
private
$31,256/yr
$125,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Des Moines Area Community College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Music in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$40K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$32K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$34K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$38K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$39K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$38K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$33K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$35K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Des Moines
Chinese Studies
$51K 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
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$40K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Des Moines — 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 Des Moines.