Music Degree in Scottsdale, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Scottsdale, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.7 yrs
in Scottsdale
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
Music in Scottsdale, AZ Overview
Scottsdale, Arizona (pop. 241,361) has 16 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 126 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,416/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 Scottsdale is approximately $50,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$2,580/yr
Private Tuition
$47,544/yr
Room & Board
$14,253/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,836/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
50%
Music Salary in Scottsdale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Scottsdale's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Scottsdale adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Scottsdale
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Scottsdale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $2,580 | Private avg: $47,544
Scottsdale avg aid: $14,836/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,332
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,300
vs HS diploma in Scottsdale
ROI Payback Period
10.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Scottsdale
$58,668
Lifetime earnings premium ($126,000) minus total education cost ($67,332)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Scottsdale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Scottsdale for Music
Scottsdale Community College
public
$2,580/yr
$10,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Scottsdale Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Music in Scottsdale
Scottsdale offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Scottsdale Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$61K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$46K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$44K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$50K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$48K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$42K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Scottsdale
Chinese Studies
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$63K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$63K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$53K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$55K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$63K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Scottsdale — 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 Scottsdale.