Music Degree in Syracuse, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Syracuse, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20 yrs
in Syracuse
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Music in Syracuse, NY Overview
Syracuse, New York (pop. 148,620) has 10 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 137 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,093/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 Syracuse is approximately $54,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$14,304/yr
Private Tuition
$57,750/yr
Room & Board
$19,896/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,141/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Music Salary in Syracuse (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Syracuse's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Syracuse adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Syracuse
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Syracuse tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,304 | Private avg: $57,750
Syracuse avg aid: $16,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$136,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,850
vs HS diploma in Syracuse
ROI Payback Period
20 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Syracuse
$200
Lifetime earnings premium ($137,000) minus total education cost ($136,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Syracuse
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Syracuse for Music
Syracuse University
private
$57,750/yr
$231,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Onondaga Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Music in Syracuse
Syracuse offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Syracuse Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$66K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$75K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$58K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$49K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$57K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$61K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$58K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$56K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Syracuse
Chinese Studies
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$69K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$69K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$58K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$60K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$62K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$69K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Syracuse — 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 Syracuse.