Theater & Drama Degree in Birmingham, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Birmingham, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$44K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.7 yrs
in Birmingham
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Birmingham, AL Overview
Birmingham, Alabama (pop. 200,733) has 10 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,041/month. Although national enrollment in Theater & Drama has been declining, graduates with skills in Acting and Directing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Birmingham is approximately $35,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$10,440/yr
Private Tuition
$36,380/yr
Room & Board
$10,096/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,275/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
68%
Theater & Drama Salary in Birmingham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Birmingham's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Birmingham adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Birmingham
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Birmingham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,440 | Private avg: $36,380
Birmingham avg aid: $14,275/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,400
vs HS diploma in Birmingham
ROI Payback Period
18.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Birmingham
$-11,744
Lifetime earnings premium ($70,400) minus total education cost ($82,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Birmingham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Birmingham for Theater & Drama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
public
$10,440/yr
$41,760 total
Samford University
private
$36,380/yr
$145,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Birmingham
Birmingham offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Birmingham Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$39K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$37K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Mobile, AL
$39K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$31K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$38K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$41K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$33K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$33K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Birmingham
Chinese Studies
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$37K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$39K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$44K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Birmingham — 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 Theater & Drama ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Birmingham.