Music Degree in Reading, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Reading, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
24.7 yrs
in Reading
Cost of Living
118
index (100 = avg)
Music in Reading, PA Overview
While Reading has a smaller college scene with 3 institutions, Music students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $21,301/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Reading is approximately $47,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
3
Public Tuition
$15,201/yr
Private Tuition
$37,128/yr
Room & Board
$21,301/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,361/yr
Unemployment
6.7%
Graduation Rate
63%
Music Salary in Reading (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Reading's cost of living index of 118 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Reading adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Reading
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Reading tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,201 | Private avg: $37,128
Reading avg aid: $13,361/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,900
vs HS diploma in Reading
ROI Payback Period
24.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Reading
$-28,008
Lifetime earnings premium ($118,000) minus total education cost ($146,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Reading
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Reading for Music
Alvernia University
private
$37,128/yr
$148,512 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reading Area Community College
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Music in Reading
Reading offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Reading Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$60K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$46K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Erie, PA
$48K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$38K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$48K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$50K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$37K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Reading
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Reading — 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 Reading.