Music Degree in Fremont, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Fremont, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.8 yrs
in Fremont
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Music in Fremont, CA Overview
Fremont is one of California's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 9,210. Public tuition averages $1,540/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Fremont is approximately $42,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$1,540/yr
Private Tuition
$60,373/yr
Room & Board
$17,934/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,692/yr
Unemployment
3.7%
Graduation Rate
56%
Music Salary in Fremont (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fremont's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Fremont adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Fremont
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Fremont tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $1,540 | Private avg: $60,373
Fremont avg aid: $13,692/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,896
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,250
vs HS diploma in Fremont
ROI Payback Period
14.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fremont
$27,104
Lifetime earnings premium ($105,000) minus total education cost ($77,896)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Fremont
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fremont for Music
Ohlone College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ohlone College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Music in Fremont
Fremont offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fremont 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 Fremont
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$47K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Fremont — 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 Fremont.