Music Degree in Milwaukee, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Milwaukee, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$38K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18 yrs
in Milwaukee
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Music in Milwaukee, WI Overview
Milwaukee is one of Wisconsin's top college towns, with 33 institutions and a student population of 59,419. Public tuition averages $9,782/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 Milwaukee is approximately $37,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
33
Public Tuition
$9,782/yr
Private Tuition
$45,550/yr
Room & Board
$11,342/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,008/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
63%
Music Salary in Milwaukee (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Milwaukee's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Milwaukee adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Milwaukee
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Milwaukee tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,782 | Private avg: $45,550
Milwaukee avg aid: $13,008/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,496
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,700
vs HS diploma in Milwaukee
ROI Payback Period
18 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Milwaukee
$9,504
Lifetime earnings premium ($94,000) minus total education cost ($84,496)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Milwaukee
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Milwaukee for Music
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
public
$9,782/yr
$39,128 total
Marquette University
private
$46,510/yr
$186,040 total
Milwaukee School of Engineering
private
$44,589/yr
$178,356 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Milwaukee Area Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Music in Milwaukee
Milwaukee offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Milwaukee Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Madison, WI
$36K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$34K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$42K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$34K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$32K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$36K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$34K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$43K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Milwaukee
Chinese Studies
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Milwaukee — 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 Milwaukee.