Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, biological science teachers, postsecondaries earn $166,850 at the median. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $351K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $149,120 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,001/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $167K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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
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What this looks like in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad sits well above the national pay line for biological science teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 97% higher than the U.S. median of $85K. Rent runs $3,001/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 12% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.89), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biological science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $128K | $113K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $134K | $116K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $127K | $119K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $126K | $114K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level biological science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $167K. Top earners bring in $351K or more, a $268K 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biological science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $167K, rent takes 31.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,001/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,800/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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,949/month. At HUD’s $3,001/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Local pay is 97% above the national median — $167K here vs. $85K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 12% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad compare to the national average for biological science teachers, postsecondaries?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pays $167K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s +97%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biological science teachers, postsecondaries make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $166,850 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,490, and experienced biological science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $350,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $167K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 31.8% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (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 biological science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $149,120 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.