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COL-adjusted ranking

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

The cities that pay History 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 $180,684/year, better purchasing power than Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario's higher nominal pay of $192,320. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$192,320
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$162,160
#3 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$135,420

Best purchasing power

#1 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$180,684
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$140,265
#3 New Haven$123,145

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

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

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$192,320
$180,684
#2
$162,160
$140,265
#3
New Haven
18% rent burden
$128,760
$123,145
#4
$135,420
$121,030
#5
$127,180
$119,228
#6
$127,780
$115,722
#7
$129,120
$113,692
#8
Providence-Warwick
19% rent burden
$106,990
$105,129
#9
Pittsburgh
16% rent burden
$98,850
$104,415
#10
$102,840
$104,268
#11
Syracuse
17% rent burden
$98,720
$103,113
#12
$100,350
$102,325
#13
$101,950
$99,221
#14
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
17% rent burden
$93,430
$97,485
#15
$105,420
$97,368
#16
$99,580
$97,104
#17
St. Louis
16% rent burden
$92,140
$96,898
#18
$101,790
$96,557
#19
$95,350
$90,965
#20
Rochester
22% rent burden
$87,420
$90,096
#21
$101,170
$89,881
#22
$96,840
$88,942
#23
$91,310
$87,386
#24
Cleveland
19% rent burden
$81,700
$86,989
#25
$84,690
$86,471

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

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

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $192,320 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $160,267 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 history 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 History Teachers, Postsecondarys?

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has one of the lowest rent burdens for History Teachers, Postsecondarys in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $2,201/month, with a median salary of $192,320.

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

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario pays the highest nominal median salary at $192,320/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

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