Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Virginia is $119,940/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $215K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $126,532 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $120K get you in Virginia?
About atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $103K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondarys at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $120K. Top earners bring in $215K or more, a $150K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $125K | +4% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $120K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,914/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $120K here vs. $103K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries?
Virginia pays $120K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries make in Virginia?
The median is $119,940 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,240, and experienced atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries can clear $214,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $120K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,196/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 22.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $126,532 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.