Music Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.8 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Music in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Washington is approximately $58,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Music Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,300
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
18.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$8,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($146,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Music
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Music in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Other Humanities Majors in Washington
Chinese Studies
$80K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$73K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$64K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$73K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$61K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$64K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$73K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Washington — 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 Washington.