Music Degree in Seattle, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Seattle, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20.1 yrs
in Seattle
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Music in Seattle, WA Overview
Seattle, Washington (pop. 737,015) has 16 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,508/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 Seattle is approximately $48,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,076/yr
Private Tuition
$49,119/yr
Room & Board
$18,145/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,675/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
68%
Music Salary in Seattle (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Seattle's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Seattle adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Seattle
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Seattle tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,076 | Private avg: $49,119
Seattle avg aid: $10,675/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,884
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,000
vs HS diploma in Seattle
ROI Payback Period
20.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Seattle
$-884
Lifetime earnings premium ($120,000) minus total education cost ($120,884)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Seattle
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Seattle for Music
University of Washington
public
$12,076/yr
$48,304 total
Seattle University
private
$51,435/yr
$205,740 total
Seattle Pacific University
private
$46,803/yr
$187,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Seattle Central College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Music in Seattle
Seattle offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Seattle Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Washington Cities
Spokane, WA
$48K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$45K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$43K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$71K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$46K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$47K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$49K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$49K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Seattle
Chinese Studies
$66K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$60K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Seattle — 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 Seattle.