Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in Colorado is $79,190/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $76,357 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 34.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Colorado
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $85K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 36.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Colorado
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $79K | -0% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 36.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,379/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $85K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries?
Colorado pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries make in Colorado?
The median is $79,190 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,700, and experienced area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries can clear $121,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,051/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 36.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $76,357 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.