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COL-adjusted ranking

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

The cities that pay Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondarys the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Salt Lake City-Murray ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $131,645/year, better purchasing power than San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont's higher nominal pay of $152,150. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$152,150
#2 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$136,670
#3 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$134,290

Best purchasing power

#1 Salt Lake City-Murray$131,645
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$131,606
#3 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$126,165

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

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

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Salt Lake City-Murray
11% rent burden
$132,790
$131,645
#2
$152,150
$131,606
#3
$134,290
$126,165
#4
$136,670
$122,147
#5
$127,620
$121,752
#6
$131,800
$119,362
#7
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
18% rent burden
$122,420
$118,486
#8
$130,750
$115,127
#9
College Station-Bryan
14% rent burden
$104,070
$114,426
#10
St. Louis
14% rent burden
$101,300
$106,531
#11
New Haven
21% rent burden
$110,890
$106,054
#12
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
16% rent burden
$98,950
$103,245
#13
Raleigh-Cary
21% rent burden
$99,930
$101,803
#14
$98,290
$98,231
#15
$98,450
$98,156
#16
$96,780
$98,124
#17
Providence-Warwick
21% rent burden
$99,410
$97,681
#18
$101,140
$96,794
#19
$95,500
$95,912
#20
$96,860
$94,451
#21
$105,440
$93,674
#22
$97,310
$92,307
#23
$94,750
$92,214
#24
$99,550
$91,431
#25
Milwaukee-Waukesha
18% rent burden
$88,310
$91,098

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 Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondarys?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $152,150 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $126,792 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 chemistry 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 Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondarys?

Salt Lake City-Murray has one of the lowest rent burdens for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondarys in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,241/month, with a median salary of $132,790.

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays the highest nominal median salary at $152,150/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

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