by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Theatre/Theatre Arts Management covers Theatre/theatre Arts Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Business Management Principles To The Management Of Theatres And Production Corporations. Includes Instruction In Theatrical Production, Theatre Design And Planning, Fund-Raising And Promotion, Investment Strategies, Human Resources Management, Theatre Operations Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Financial Management And Insurance, And Applicable Laws And Regulations. Continue reading for the key facts every theatre/theatre arts management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering theatre/theatre arts management programs.
Across the country, theatre/theatre arts management draws strong interest, with 220 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Schools ranking analyzes these 23 schools to determine the best overall colleges for theatre/theatre arts management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of theatre/theatre arts management programs later in this article.
Programs in Theatre/Theatre Arts Management develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations theatre/theatre arts management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a theatre/theatre arts management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a theatre/theatre arts management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several theatre/theatre arts management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 148 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 71 |
People currently working in careers related to theatre/theatre arts management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 44.2% |
| Master’s degree | 21.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in theatre/theatre arts management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in theatre/theatre arts management can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to theatre/theatre arts management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to theatre/theatre arts management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of theatre/theatre arts management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,449 |
| 4 years | $42,732 |
| 5 years | $47,703 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for theatre/theatre arts management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers theatre/theatre arts management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
With 23 different theatre/theatre arts management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased theatre/theatre arts management school rankings to help you.
Those considering theatre/theatre arts management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music Management | 1,866 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General | 982 |
| Fine and Studio Arts Management | 930 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other | 432 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
