Theater & Drama Degree in Spokane, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Spokane, WA. 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
17.4 yrs
in Spokane
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Spokane, WA Overview
Spokane, Washington (pop. 228,989) has 20 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 $1,678/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 Spokane is approximately $48,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$13,119/yr
Private Tuition
$49,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,236/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,489/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
61%
Theater & Drama Salary in Spokane (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Spokane'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.Spokane adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Spokane
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Spokane tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,119 | Private avg: $49,320
Spokane avg aid: $8,489/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,420
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,050
vs HS diploma in Spokane
ROI Payback Period
17.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Spokane
$-8,620
Lifetime earnings premium ($96,800) minus total education cost ($105,420)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Spokane
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Spokane for Theater & Drama
Gonzaga University
private
$50,380/yr
$201,520 total
Whitworth University
private
$48,260/yr
$193,040 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Spokane Falls Community College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Spokane
Spokane offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Spokane Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$48K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$45K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$43K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$71K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$46K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$47K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$49K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$49K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Spokane
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 Spokane — 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 Spokane.