Music Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Music in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/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 Riverside is approximately $47,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Music Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,950
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
21 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$-6,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($119,000) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Music
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Music in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside 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 Riverside
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$60K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.