Music Degree in Santa Clarita, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Santa Clarita, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.7 yrs
in Santa Clarita
Cost of Living
148.1
index (100 = avg)
Music in Santa Clarita, CA Overview
Santa Clarita, California (pop. 228,673) has 9 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 148.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,100/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 Santa Clarita is approximately $59,240.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,381/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,814/yr
Unemployment
5.5%
Graduation Rate
66%
Music Salary in Santa Clarita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Clarita's cost of living index of 148.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Santa Clarita adjustment factor: 1.48x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Santa Clarita
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Santa Clarita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Santa Clarita avg aid: $11,814/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,524
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,405
vs HS diploma in Santa Clarita
ROI Payback Period
16.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Clarita
$24,576
Lifetime earnings premium ($148,100) minus total education cost ($123,524)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Santa Clarita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Clarita for Music
Santa Clarita State University
public
$13,263/yr
$53,052 total
University of Santa Clarita
public
$16,216/yr
$64,864 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Clarita Community College
$6,330/yr
California Technical College - Santa Clarita
$5,900/yr
Top Employers for Music in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita
Chinese Studies
$81K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$74K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$65K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$74K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$62K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$65K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$67K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$74K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Santa Clarita — 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 Santa Clarita.