Music Degree in Gilbert, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Gilbert, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20.7 yrs
in Gilbert
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Music in Gilbert, AZ Overview
Gilbert is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 26 institutions and a student population of 27,183. Public tuition averages $11,758/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 Gilbert is approximately $47,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
26
Public Tuition
$11,758/yr
Private Tuition
$26,400/yr
Room & Board
$19,092/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,808/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
49%
Music Salary in Gilbert (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Gilbert's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Gilbert adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Gilbert
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Gilbert tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,758 | Private avg: $26,400
Gilbert avg aid: $12,808/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,400
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,950
vs HS diploma in Gilbert
ROI Payback Period
20.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Gilbert
$-4,400
Lifetime earnings premium ($119,000) minus total education cost ($123,400)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Gilbert
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Gilbert for Music
University of Advancing Technology Gilbert
private
$26,400/yr
$105,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Music in Gilbert
Gilbert offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Gilbert Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$61K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$46K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$44K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$50K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$42K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$50K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Gilbert
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$60K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Gilbert — 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 Gilbert.