Music Degree in Hillsboro, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Hillsboro, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.2 yrs
in Hillsboro
Cost of Living
115.5
index (100 = avg)
Music in Hillsboro, OR Overview
While Hillsboro has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Music students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,938/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Hillsboro is approximately $46,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,938/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,549/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Music Salary in Hillsboro (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Hillsboro's cost of living index of 115.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Hillsboro adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Hillsboro
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Hillsboro tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Hillsboro avg aid: $9,549/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,352
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,775
vs HS diploma in Hillsboro
ROI Payback Period
18.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Hillsboro
$10,148
Lifetime earnings premium ($115,500) minus total education cost ($105,352)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Hillsboro
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Hillsboro for Music
Hillsboro State University
public
$12,045/yr
$48,180 total
University of Hillsboro
public
$13,855/yr
$55,420 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hillsboro Community College
$5,881/yr
Top Employers for Music in Hillsboro
Hillsboro offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Hillsboro Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$45K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$52K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$48K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$44K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$43K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$42K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$44K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$48K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Hillsboro
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$58K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Hillsboro — 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 Hillsboro.