Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $85,030/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $80,384 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,169/month, about 39.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $85K 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Pay for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $103K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,169/month, which is 40.4% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $111K | $107K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $132K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $133K | +29% | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $132K | +28% | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $130K | +26% | 50 |
| Oregon | $128K | +24% | 340 |
| Connecticut | $124K | +20% | 230 |
| Virginia | $120K | +16% | 230 |
| Arizona | $111K | +7% | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $109K | +6% | 470 |
| Maryland | $108K | +4% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $107K | +4% | 130 |
| New Mexico | $107K | +4% | 50 |
| Nevada | $106K | +3% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $106K | +2% | 220 |
| Texas | $105K | +2% | 690 |
| Michigan | $105K | +2% | 180 |
| Oklahoma | $104K | +1% | 30 |
| Washington | $103K | -0% | 210 |
| North Carolina | $103K | -0% | 360 |
| Minnesota | $103K | -0% | 90 |
| Missouri | $102K | -1% | 130 |
| Kansas | $102K | -1% | 80 |
| Wyoming | $100K | -3% | 50 |
| Indiana | $100K | -3% | 130 |
| North Dakota | $98K | -5% | 60 |
| Iowa | $98K | -5% | 50 |
| Utah | $97K | -6% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $96K | -7% | 40 |
| Maine | $95K | -8% | 130 |
| Ohio | $95K | -8% | 150 |
| Georgia | $95K | -8% | 50 |
| New York | $87K | -15% | 1,730 |
| Illinois | $87K | -16% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $85K | -18% | 120 |
| Florida | $82K | -21% | 350 |
| Alabama | $82K | -21% | 90 |
| West Virginia | $82K | -21% | 40 |
| Colorado | $79K | -23% | 340 |
| Mississippi | $78K | -25% | 120 |
| South Carolina | $77K | -26% | 80 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -39% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 40.4% 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 $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,721/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 80% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $85K here vs. $103K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $85,030 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,310, and experienced atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries can clear $171,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,372/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 40.4% 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $80,384 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences 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.