Theater & Drama Degree in Hollywood, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Hollywood, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.7 yrs
in Hollywood
Cost of Living
108.2
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Hollywood, FL Overview
Hollywood, Florida (pop. 153,067) has 6 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 108.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,155/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 Hollywood is approximately $43,280.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$6,400/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,426/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,678/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
64%
Theater & Drama Salary in Hollywood (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Hollywood's cost of living index of 108.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Hollywood adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Hollywood
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Hollywood tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,400 | Private avg: $30,000
Hollywood avg aid: $8,678/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,304
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,410
vs HS diploma in Hollywood
ROI Payback Period
14.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Hollywood
$7,256
Lifetime earnings premium ($86,560) minus total education cost ($79,304)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Hollywood
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Hollywood for Theater & Drama
Hollywood State University
public
$6,892/yr
$27,568 total
University of Hollywood
public
$6,460/yr
$25,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hollywood Community College
$5,695/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Hollywood
Hollywood offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Hollywood Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$47K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$39K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$40K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$38K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$39K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$31K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$39K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$36K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Hollywood
Chinese Studies
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$45K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Hollywood — 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 Hollywood.