Philosophy Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.1 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Philosophy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Philosophy has been declining, graduates with skills in Logic and Ethics remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Renton is approximately $53,900, growing to $85,750 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Philosophy Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,025
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
10.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$256,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($367,500) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Philosophy
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$53K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$53K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$50K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$48K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$79K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$51K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$52K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$54K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Renton
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$61K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Renton — 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 Philosophy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Renton.