Theater & Drama Degree in Honolulu, HI — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Honolulu, HI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.4 yrs
in Honolulu
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Honolulu, HI Overview
Honolulu, Hawaii (pop. 350,964) has 12 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,330/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 Honolulu is approximately $48,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$12,186/yr
Private Tuition
$27,060/yr
Room & Board
$12,570/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,299/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
54%
Theater & Drama Salary in Honolulu (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Honolulu's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Honolulu adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Honolulu
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Honolulu tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,186 | Private avg: $27,060
Honolulu avg aid: $12,299/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,050
vs HS diploma in Honolulu
ROI Payback Period
16.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Honolulu
$-2,224
Lifetime earnings premium ($96,800) minus total education cost ($99,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Honolulu
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Honolulu for Theater & Drama
University of Hawaii at Manoa
public
$12,186/yr
$48,744 total
Chaminade University of Honolulu
private
$27,060/yr
$108,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Honolulu Community College
$3,432/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Honolulu
Honolulu offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Honolulu Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Other Humanities Majors in Honolulu
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Honolulu — 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 Honolulu.