Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Reading, PA, biological science teachers, postsecondaries earn $78,220 at the median. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.06), that's roughly $80,589 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,575/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K get you in Reading?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Reading’s Regional Price Parity (97.06). 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 biological science teachers, postsecondaries
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Reading
Biological science teachers, postsecondary pay in Reading tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $85K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,575/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biological science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Reading, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $95K | $93K |
| Pittsburgh | $78K | $83K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $80K | $80K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $101K | $102K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Reading, PA
Entry-level biological science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129K | +53% | 3,610 |
| Massachusetts | $105K | +24% | 2,060 |
| Michigan | $104K | +22% | 1,460 |
| New Hampshire | $102K | +21% | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +21% | 250 |
| Delaware | $101K | +20% | 130 |
| Oregon | $101K | +19% | 800 |
| Montana | $100K | +19% | 110 |
| Illinois | $99K | +17% | 2,340 |
| New Mexico | $99K | +17% | 150 |
| Colorado | $99K | +17% | 810 |
| New York | $98K | +16% | 3,870 |
| Washington | $97K | +15% | 960 |
| Minnesota | $97K | +14% | 780 |
| District of Columbia | $97K | +14% | 350 |
| Connecticut | $96K | +14% | 870 |
| North Dakota | $91K | +7% | 170 |
| Georgia | $88K | +4% | 980 |
| Pennsylvania | $86K | +2% | 2,410 |
| Nevada | $85K | +0% | 350 |
| Maine | $84K | -1% | 270 |
| Maryland | $84K | -1% | 970 |
| Indiana | $83K | -2% | 1,100 |
| Arizona | $83K | -2% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $83K | -2% | 160 |
| Texas | $82K | -3% | 3,840 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -3% | 750 |
| Vermont | $82K | -3% | 170 |
| Idaho | $82K | -4% | 220 |
| Utah | $82K | -4% | 300 |
| Kansas | $81K | -4% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $81K | -4% | 500 |
| Missouri | $81K | -4% | 1,060 |
| Ohio | $80K | -6% | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $80K | -6% | 1,570 |
| Virginia | $79K | -6% | 1,760 |
| Louisiana | $79K | -7% | 390 |
| Tennessee | $79K | -7% | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -7% | 950 |
| Iowa | $78K | -8% | 540 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -8% | 1,960 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -8% | 430 |
| Alabama | $78K | -8% | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $77K | -10% | 160 |
| Kentucky | $71K | -17% | 470 |
| West Virginia | $67K | -21% | 220 |
| Mississippi | $67K | -21% | 580 |
| Oklahoma | $66K | -22% | 470 |
| Florida | $57K | -32% | 2,020 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biological science teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Reading numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a biological science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Reading?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 31% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,575/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 biological science teachers, postsecondaries in Reading?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,471/month. At HUD’s $1,575/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biological science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Reading?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $85K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Reading compare to the national average for biological science teachers, postsecondaries?
Reading pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do biological science teachers, postsecondaries make in Reading, PA?
The median is $78,220 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,850, and experienced biological science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $124,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Reading?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,084/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,575/month, which eats 31% 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 biological science teachers, postsecondary salary go in Reading?
Reading has a Regional Price Parity of 97.06 (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 biological science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $80,589 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological science 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.