Music Degree in Wichita, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Wichita, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.5 yrs
in Wichita
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Music in Wichita, KS Overview
Wichita, Kansas (pop. 397,532) has 20 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $837/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 Wichita is approximately $41,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$43,408/yr
Room & Board
$12,817/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,474/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Music Salary in Wichita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wichita's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Wichita adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Wichita
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Wichita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $43,408
Wichita avg aid: $16,474/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,200
vs HS diploma in Wichita
ROI Payback Period
16.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wichita
$18,172
Lifetime earnings premium ($104,000) minus total education cost ($85,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Wichita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wichita for Music
Wichita State University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Butler Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Music in Wichita
Wichita offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wichita Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby Kansas Cities
Overland Park, KS
$41K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$33K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$39K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$34K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$43K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$35K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$38K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$38K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Wichita
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Degree in Wichita — 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 Wichita.