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Visual & Performing Arts · Music Rank #12 of 240

Musicat Texas State University

Graduates earn $51,158/yr in their first year — about 82.0% above the national Music average. Base-case 10-year earnings $522K; scenarios range from $481K to $525K depending on AI disruption.

San Marcos, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
48 AVERAGE
49
Optimistic
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$51,158
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$522K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas State University

The strong earnings potential from a Texas State Music degree isn't just about raw talent; it reflects a smart alignment with regional demand. Situated in the vibrant Austin-San Antonio corridor, you're at the nexus of a thriving live music scene, growing entertainment industry, and a rapidly expanding educational system. This creates diverse opportunities for graduates, particularly in areas like sound engineering, production, and music education across Texas. The program likely emphasizes practical skills and professional connections that feed directly into these high-demand roles, rather than solely focusing on performance. You'll find graduates working in studios, managing live sound for venues, or teaching in the state's numerous school districts, leveraging a versatile skill set. To maximize your financial outlook, proactively explore internships in sound technology or education early on to build your professional network and practical experience.

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
$481K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple10.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$522K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple11.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$525K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas State 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 Texas State 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
Same state (TX)
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 Texas State University

Other top programs at Texas State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas State 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 Texas State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Music at Texas State University?

A score of 48/100 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 $481,215 in decade earnings vs $525,312 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Texas State University's Music program stand out?

Ranked #12 of 240 programs nationally, Texas State University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.