Music Degree in Mobile, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Mobile, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20 yrs
in Mobile
Cost of Living
98
index (100 = avg)
Music in Mobile, AL Overview
Mobile, Alabama (pop. 187,041) has 12 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 98 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,083/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 Mobile is approximately $39,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,100/yr
Private Tuition
$41,360/yr
Room & Board
$13,457/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,004/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
73%
Music Salary in Mobile (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mobile's cost of living index of 98 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Mobile adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Mobile
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Mobile tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,100 | Private avg: $41,360
Mobile avg aid: $12,004/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,228
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,900
vs HS diploma in Mobile
ROI Payback Period
20 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mobile
$-228
Lifetime earnings premium ($98,000) minus total education cost ($98,228)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Mobile
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mobile for Music
University of South Alabama
public
$11,100/yr
$44,400 total
Spring Hill College
private
$41,360/yr
$165,440 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bishop State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Music in Mobile
Mobile offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mobile Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$39K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Birmingham, AL
$35K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$37K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$31K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$38K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$41K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$33K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$33K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Mobile
Chinese Studies
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$41K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$43K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$44K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$49K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Mobile — 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 Mobile.