Theater & Drama Degree in Sacramento, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Sacramento, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19.6 yrs
in Sacramento
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Sacramento, CA Overview
Sacramento is one of California's top college towns, with 38 institutions and a student population of 18,535. Public tuition averages $7,488/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Sacramento is approximately $44,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
38
Public Tuition
$7,488/yr
Private Tuition
$44,382/yr
Room & Board
$19,962/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,517/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
55%
Theater & Drama Salary in Sacramento (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sacramento's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Sacramento adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Sacramento
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Sacramento tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,488 | Private avg: $44,382
Sacramento avg aid: $16,517/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,600
vs HS diploma in Sacramento
ROI Payback Period
19.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sacramento
$-20,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($89,600) minus total education cost ($109,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Sacramento
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sacramento for Theater & Drama
Sacramento State University
public
$7,488/yr
$29,952 total
University of the Pacific
private
$52,584/yr
$210,336 total
William Jessup University
private
$36,180/yr
$144,720 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sacramento City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Sacramento
Sacramento offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sacramento 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
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$54K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Sacramento
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$49K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Sacramento — 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 Sacramento.