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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondarys by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondarys the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $151,926/year, better purchasing power than San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont's higher nominal pay of $163,920. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$163,920
#2 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$161,710
#3 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$161,010

Best purchasing power

#1 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$151,926
#2 Champaign-Urbana$151,370
#3 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$143,900

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

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

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$161,710
$151,926
#2
Champaign-Urbana
10% rent burden
$140,320
$151,370
#3
$161,010
$143,900
#4
$163,920
$141,787
#5
$130,680
$140,956
#6
$154,420
$139,848
#7
Ann Arbor
15% rent burden
$136,490
$135,299
#8
$133,770
$133,450
#9
$124,850
$127,476
#10
$135,920
$127,421
#11
Tuscaloosa
13% rent burden
$109,400
$124,715
#12
$135,510
$119,318
#13
El Paso
12% rent burden
$101,490
$112,880
#14
Salt Lake City-Murray
14% rent burden
$110,140
$109,190
#15
$104,040
$107,993
#16
St. Louis
14% rent burden
$101,370
$106,604
#17
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
16% rent burden
$101,380
$105,780
#18
$106,090
$105,773
#19
$99,590
$105,141
#20
Pittsburgh
16% rent burden
$98,600
$104,151
#21
$103,000
$103,445
#22
$100,830
$102,814
#23
$102,740
$102,678
#24
Richmond
20% rent burden
$100,280
$102,473
#25
$102,340
$102,115

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 Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondarys?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $163,920 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $136,600 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 computer science 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 Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondarys?

Champaign-Urbana has one of the lowest rent burdens for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondarys in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,122/month, with a median salary of $140,320.

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays the highest nominal median salary at $163,920/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondarysView →How to become a computer science teachers, postsecondaryGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →