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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Business Teachers, Postsecondarys by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Business Teachers, Postsecondarys the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Wilmington ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $186,497/year, better purchasing power than Wilmington's higher nominal pay of $179,820. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Wilmington$179,820
#2 Champaign-Urbana$169,800
#3 Lawrence$162,300

Best purchasing power

#1 Wilmington$186,497
#2 Champaign-Urbana$183,172
#3 Lawrence$179,854

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed business teachers, postsecondarys excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Wilmington
10% rent burden
$179,820
$186,497
#2
Champaign-Urbana
8% rent burden
$169,800
$183,172
#3
Lawrence
9% rent burden
$162,300
$179,854
#4
$158,270
$148,694
#5
$125,280
$145,861
#6
Fargo
10% rent burden
$131,760
$144,998
#7
Binghamton
10% rent burden
$134,400
$144,734
#8
College Station-Bryan
11% rent burden
$128,490
$141,275
#9
Lansing-East Lansing
11% rent burden
$133,750
$140,804
#10
Salt Lake City-Murray
11% rent burden
$140,010
$138,802
#11
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
12% rent burden
$129,100
$137,986
#12
Reno
16% rent burden
$137,150
$135,779
#13
Madison
11% rent burden
$131,530
$135,194
#14
$132,150
$134,930
#15
Columbia
12% rent burden
$126,000
$134,529
#16
Ann Arbor
15% rent burden
$131,580
$130,432
#17
Lubbock
10% rent burden
$111,360
$121,945
#18
El Paso
11% rent burden
$108,350
$120,509
#19
Tuscaloosa
13% rent burden
$105,650
$120,440
#20
Greenville
13% rent burden
$104,290
$117,975
#21
$131,590
$117,607
#22
$128,730
$116,582
#23
$130,480
$115,920
#24
Columbia
14% rent burden
$102,470
$114,568
#25
$123,620
$113,538

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Business Teachers, Postsecondarys?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $179,820 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $149,850 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A business teachers, postsecondary in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Business Teachers, Postsecondarys?

Champaign-Urbana has one of the lowest rent burdens for Business Teachers, Postsecondarys in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,122/month, with a median salary of $169,800.

Where do Business Teachers, Postsecondarys get paid the most in nominal terms?

Wilmington pays the highest nominal median salary at $179,820/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Business Teachers, PostsecondarysView →How to become a business teachers, postsecondaryGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →