Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $79,050/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $74,731 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,169/month, about 41% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Denver-Aurora-Centennial’s Regional Price Parity (105.78). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 $2,169/month, which is 43% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $125K | +48% | 80 |
| Kansas | $107K | +26% | 90 |
| California | $105K | +24% | 770 |
| Rhode Island | $104K | +23% | N/A |
| Maine | $103K | +21% | 50 |
| New York | $102K | +20% | 1,520 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +20% | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $100K | +18% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $100K | +18% | 310 |
| New Jersey | $98K | +15% | 480 |
| Pennsylvania | $96K | +13% | 260 |
| Maryland | $91K | +7% | 520 |
| Illinois | $90K | +6% | 220 |
| Michigan | $88K | +3% | 460 |
| Virginia | $86K | +1% | 300 |
| Indiana | $85K | -0% | 260 |
| Utah | $83K | -2% | 40 |
| Alaska | $82K | -4% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $82K | -4% | 280 |
| Washington | $81K | -4% | 240 |
| Oregon | $80K | -6% | 340 |
| Ohio | $80K | -6% | 390 |
| Colorado | $79K | -7% | 160 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -7% | 180 |
| Montana | $79K | -7% | 90 |
| Georgia | $78K | -9% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $77K | -10% | 50 |
| Wyoming | $76K | -10% | 40 |
| Arizona | $76K | -11% | 240 |
| Tennessee | $75K | -12% | 60 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -12% | 90 |
| Texas | $72K | -15% | 830 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -16% | 40 |
| Florida | $67K | -22% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -22% | 590 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -24% | 130 |
| Alabama | $63K | -26% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 43% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,690/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $85K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $79,050 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,820, and experienced area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries can clear $113,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,043/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 43% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 105.78 (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 $74,731 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.