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Visual & Performing Arts · Music Rank #18 of 240

Musicat Tennessee Technological University

Graduates earn $44,635/yr in their first year — about 59.0% above the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $499K; scenarios range from $463K to $499K depending on AI disruption.

Cookeville, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
45 AVERAGE
45
Optimistic
33
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,635
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$499K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Tennessee Technological University

Your strong earnings potential in Music at Tennessee Tech signals a program deeply connected to a vibrant regional ecosystem. Cookeville's advantageous location near Nashville, a global music industry epicenter, means graduates are well-positioned for diverse roles beyond performance. Many find success in critical behind-the-scenes positions like sound engineering for studios or live events, or in the significant demand for music educators across K-12 and postsecondary institutions. The program likely emphasizes practical skills and industry connections, preparing you for the multifaceted needs of the modern music world. To truly leverage this, actively seek out internships and build your professional network within the Nashville area, exploring every facet from production to arts administration.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$463K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$499K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple12.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$499K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple12.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Tennessee Technological University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Music graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
2
Sound engineering technicians
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$66,430/yr
Moderate
3
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
4
Music directors and composers
-0.3% 10-yr growth · 4,300 openings/yr
$63,670/yr
Very High
5
Musicians and singers
+1.1% 10-yr growth · 19,400 openings/yr
Moderate
6
Disc jockeys, except radio
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Music

How Tennessee Technological University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Sam Houston State University
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
11.9x
ROI
Top score
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
14.2x
ROI
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
The University of Texas at El Paso
TX · Public
51
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
13.4x
ROI
University of Houston
TX · Public
55
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Also at Tennessee Technological University

Other top programs at Tennessee Technological University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Tennessee Technological University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Music offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Music trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Music at Tennessee Technological University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Tennessee Technological University?

A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Music. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Music careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $463,169 in decade earnings vs $499,324 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.