Music Degree in Pomona, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Pomona, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.3 yrs
in Pomona
Cost of Living
131
index (100 = avg)
Music in Pomona, CA Overview
Pomona, California (pop. 151,348) has 11 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 131 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,430/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 Pomona is approximately $52,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$7,387/yr
Private Tuition
$40,824/yr
Room & Board
$16,037/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,843/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
66%
Music Salary in Pomona (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pomona's cost of living index of 131 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Pomona adjustment factor: 1.31x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Pomona
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Pomona tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,387 | Private avg: $40,824
Pomona avg aid: $10,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,696
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,550
vs HS diploma in Pomona
ROI Payback Period
14.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pomona
$37,304
Lifetime earnings premium ($131,000) minus total education cost ($93,696)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Pomona
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pomona for Music
Cal Poly Pomona
public
$7,387/yr
$29,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mt. San Antonio College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Music in Pomona
Pomona offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pomona 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
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Pomona
Chinese Studies
$72K 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
Classical Studies
$59K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$66K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Pomona — 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 Pomona.