Music Degree in Tacoma, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Tacoma, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.2 yrs
in Tacoma
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
Music in Tacoma, WA Overview
Tacoma is one of Washington's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 23,456. Public tuition averages $10,637/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Tacoma is approximately $45,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$10,637/yr
Private Tuition
$52,153/yr
Room & Board
$13,707/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,864/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
60%
Music Salary in Tacoma (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tacoma's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Tacoma adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Tacoma
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Tacoma tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,637 | Private avg: $52,153
Tacoma avg aid: $8,864/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,376
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,650
vs HS diploma in Tacoma
ROI Payback Period
17.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tacoma
$15,624
Lifetime earnings premium ($113,000) minus total education cost ($97,376)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Tacoma
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tacoma for Music
University of Puget Sound
private
$56,156/yr
$224,624 total
Pacific Lutheran University
private
$48,150/yr
$192,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tacoma Community College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Music in Tacoma
Tacoma offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tacoma Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$48K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$48K starting · COL 121
20 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 Tacoma
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$57K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$57K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$57K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Tacoma — 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 Tacoma.