Music Degree in Waldorf, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Waldorf, MD. 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
17.4 yrs
in Waldorf
Cost of Living
120.7
index (100 = avg)
Music in Waldorf, MD Overview
While Waldorf has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Music students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,443/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Waldorf is approximately $48,280.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,443/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,454/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
70%
Music Salary in Waldorf (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Waldorf's cost of living index of 120.7 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Waldorf adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Waldorf
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Waldorf tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Waldorf avg aid: $12,454/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,972
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,035
vs HS diploma in Waldorf
ROI Payback Period
17.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Waldorf
$15,728
Lifetime earnings premium ($120,700) minus total education cost ($104,972)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Waldorf
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Waldorf for Music
Waldorf State University
public
$10,152/yr
$40,608 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Waldorf Community College
$5,704/yr
Top Employers for Music in Waldorf
Waldorf offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Waldorf Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$52K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Columbia, MD
$51K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$49K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$45K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$46K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$44K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$51K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$47K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Waldorf
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
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$60K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Waldorf — 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 Waldorf.