Theatre Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Theatre major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Arts, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Arts, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$66,982

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$105,903

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$142,325

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 3.6%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,679,280

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1121
Occupation: Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$80,190
97,890
N/A
N/A
Fashion Designers
SOC: 27-1022
Occupation: Fashion Designers
$80,690
20,910
N/A
N/A
Set and Exhibit Designers
SOC: 27-1027
Occupation: Set and Exhibit Designers
$66,280
10,850
N/A
N/A
Actors
SOC: 27-2011
Occupation: Actors
$NaN
38,800
N/A
N/A
Producers and Directors
SOC: 27-2012
Occupation: Producers and Directors
$83,480
145,270
N/A
N/A
Dancers
SOC: 27-2031
Occupation: Dancers
$NaN
9,060
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

15.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$80,19097,890
2023$80,360101,500
2022$77,28097,830
2021$75,94094,720
2020$69,69091,170

Set and Exhibit Designers

13.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$66,28010,850
2023$59,49010,090
2022$59,9909,490
2021$54,8606,850
2020$58,18010,980

Colleges offering Theatre

Fairfield University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$48k

Earnings

$77k

Yale University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$27k

Earnings

$86k

Claremont McKenna College

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$30k

Earnings

$83k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k

San Jose State University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$14k

Earnings

$70k