Music Degree in Oakland, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Oakland, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.5 yrs
in Oakland
Cost of Living
132
index (100 = avg)
Music in Oakland, CA Overview
Oakland, California (pop. 433,031) has 13 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 132 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,787/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 Oakland is approximately $52,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,404/yr
Private Tuition
$43,067/yr
Room & Board
$17,543/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,438/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Music Salary in Oakland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oakland's cost of living index of 132 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Oakland adjustment factor: 1.32x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Oakland
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Oakland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,404 | Private avg: $43,067
Oakland avg aid: $12,438/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,788
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,600
vs HS diploma in Oakland
ROI Payback Period
17.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oakland
$16,212
Lifetime earnings premium ($132,000) minus total education cost ($115,788)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Oakland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oakland for Music
Mills College at Northeastern University
private
$42,250/yr
$169,000 total
Holy Names University
private
$41,232/yr
$164,928 total
Samuel Merritt University
private
$45,720/yr
$182,880 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Merritt College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Music in Oakland
Oakland offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oakland Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$54K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Oakland
Chinese Studies
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$66K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$58K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$66K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Oakland — 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 Oakland.