Music Degree in Detroit, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Detroit, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$48K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
24.5 yrs
in Detroit
Cost of Living
87
index (100 = avg)
Music in Detroit, MI Overview
Detroit is one of Michigan's top college towns, with 43 institutions and a student population of 57,362. Public tuition averages $14,568/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Detroit is approximately $34,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
43
Public Tuition
$14,568/yr
Private Tuition
$33,980/yr
Room & Board
$12,083/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,401/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Music Salary in Detroit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Detroit's cost of living index of 87 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Detroit adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Detroit
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Detroit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,568 | Private avg: $33,980
Detroit avg aid: $15,401/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$106,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,350
vs HS diploma in Detroit
ROI Payback Period
24.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Detroit
$-19,604
Lifetime earnings premium ($87,000) minus total education cost ($106,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Detroit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Detroit for Music
Wayne State University
public
$14,568/yr
$58,272 total
University of Detroit Mercy
private
$33,980/yr
$135,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Wayne County Community College
$4,296/yr
Top Employers for Music in Detroit
Detroit offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Detroit Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Michigan Cities
Grand Rapids, MI
$35K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$35K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$37K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Ann Arbor, MI
$34K starting · COL 85
14 colleges
Lansing, MI
$34K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$36K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$38K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$37K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Detroit
Chinese Studies
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$37K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$38K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$44K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$37K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Detroit — 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 Detroit.