Music Degree in Macon, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Macon, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.1 yrs
in Macon
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Music in Macon, GA Overview
Macon, Georgia (pop. 157,346) has 13 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 101 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,007/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 Macon is approximately $40,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,056/yr
Private Tuition
$40,560/yr
Room & Board
$11,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,538/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Music Salary in Macon (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Macon's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Macon adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Macon
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Macon tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,056 | Private avg: $40,560
Macon avg aid: $10,538/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,156
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,050
vs HS diploma in Macon
ROI Payback Period
18.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Macon
$9,844
Lifetime earnings premium ($101,000) minus total education cost ($91,156)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Macon
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Macon for Music
Mercer University
private
$40,560/yr
$162,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Central Georgia Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Music in Macon
Macon offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Macon Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$40K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$34K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$33K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Savannah, GA
$38K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$41K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$45K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$43K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$45K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Macon
Chinese Studies
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$42K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$44K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$51K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Macon — 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 Macon.