Theatre
Visual & Performing Arts · federal classification: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $31,229 | $28,175 to $32,858 | 8 | 0% |
| Associate's Degree | $27,311 | $27,161 to $30,146 | 5 | 0% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,178 | $34,311 to $43,048 | 280 | 68% |
| Master's Degree | $51,904 | $39,526 to $56,786 | 50 | 82% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2025 to 2035), about 43,200 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | +4% | 12,100 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | -0.3% | 11,900 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | +2.2% | 8,000 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | +1.2% | 4,200 |
| Fashion Designers | $80,960 | +0.1% | 2,500 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | +1.4% | 2,200 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a theatre program, of 978 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- New York University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- New York Film Academy
- University of Southern California
- Texas State University
- Columbia College Chicago
- DePaul University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.