Music Degree in Tucson, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Tucson, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.8 yrs
in Tucson
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Music in Tucson, AZ Overview
Tucson is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 21,782. Public tuition averages $7,664/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 Tucson is approximately $46,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$7,664/yr
Private Tuition
$31,536/yr
Room & Board
$18,163/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,106/yr
Unemployment
3.7%
Graduation Rate
67%
Music Salary in Tucson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tucson's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Tucson adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Tucson
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Tucson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,664 | Private avg: $31,536
Tucson avg aid: $14,106/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,308
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,800
vs HS diploma in Tucson
ROI Payback Period
17.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tucson
$12,692
Lifetime earnings premium ($116,000) minus total education cost ($103,308)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Tucson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tucson for Music
University of Arizona
public
$12,748/yr
$50,992 total
Pima Community College
public
$2,580/yr
$10,320 total
Prescott College
private
$31,536/yr
$126,144 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pima Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Music in Tucson
Tucson offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tucson 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
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
Scottsdale, AZ
$50K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Tucson
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$58K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Tucson — 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 Tucson.