Theater & Drama Degree in Oakland, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Oakland, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.5 yrs
in Oakland
Cost of Living
132
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Oakland, CA Overview
Oakland, California (pop. 433,031) has 13 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 132 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,787/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 Oakland is approximately $52,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,404/yr
Private Tuition
$43,067/yr
Room & Board
$17,543/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,438/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Theater & Drama Salary in Oakland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oakland's cost of living index of 132 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Oakland adjustment factor: 1.32x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Oakland
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Oakland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,404 | Private avg: $43,067
Oakland avg aid: $12,438/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,788
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,600
vs HS diploma in Oakland
ROI Payback Period
17.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oakland
$-10,188
Lifetime earnings premium ($105,600) minus total education cost ($115,788)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Oakland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oakland for Theater & Drama
Mills College at Northeastern University
private
$42,250/yr
$169,000 total
Holy Names University
private
$41,232/yr
$164,928 total
Samuel Merritt University
private
$45,720/yr
$182,880 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Merritt College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Oakland
Oakland offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oakland Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$54K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Oakland
Chinese Studies
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$66K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$58K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$66K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Oakland — 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 Oakland.