Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondaries in Auburn-Opelika, AL make a median of $83,460 a year. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.93), which stretches that salary to about $94,916 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $995/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Auburn-Opelika?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Auburn-Opelika’s Regional Price Parity (87.93). 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Auburn-Opelika
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary pay in Auburn-Opelika tracks closely to the national median, $83K locally vs. $93K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $995/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Auburn-Opelika, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $92K | $101K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $103K | $103K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $81K | $71K |
| Knoxville | $88K | $96K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Auburn-Opelika, AL
Entry-level chemistry teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $133K | +43% | 1,650 |
| North Dakota | $111K | +19% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +16% | 820 |
| Delaware | $105K | +12% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $104K | +12% | 430 |
| Arizona | $104K | +11% | 210 |
| District of Columbia | $103K | +11% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $102K | +10% | 70 |
| Utah | $102K | +10% | 200 |
| Nevada | $102K | +9% | 60 |
| Maryland | $102K | +9% | 310 |
| Oregon | $101K | +9% | 460 |
| Michigan | $101K | +8% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +8% | 110 |
| New York | $100K | +7% | 1,840 |
| Illinois | $98K | +5% | 880 |
| Colorado | $97K | +4% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $95K | +2% | 1,270 |
| Kansas | $94K | +1% | 170 |
| Washington | $86K | -8% | 390 |
| Georgia | $85K | -9% | 500 |
| Maine | $85K | -9% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $85K | -9% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $85K | -9% | 150 |
| Montana | $85K | -9% | 80 |
| Louisiana | $84K | -10% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -10% | 450 |
| Missouri | $83K | -11% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $83K | -11% | 30 |
| Kentucky | $83K | -11% | 250 |
| Iowa | $82K | -12% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $82K | -12% | 90 |
| Texas | $82K | -12% | 1,470 |
| New Jersey | $82K | -12% | 750 |
| Indiana | $82K | -13% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $81K | -13% | 270 |
| Virginia | $80K | -14% | 760 |
| Tennessee | $79K | -15% | 370 |
| Connecticut | $79K | -15% | 350 |
| North Carolina | $79K | -16% | 900 |
| Vermont | $79K | -16% | 90 |
| Ohio | $78K | -16% | 700 |
| Florida | $78K | -17% | 340 |
| Alabama | $76K | -18% | 310 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -19% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -29% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -31% | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -31% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Auburn-Opelika numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemistry teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $995/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in Auburn-Opelika?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemistry teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,155/month. At HUD’s $995/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemistry teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Auburn-Opelika?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $83K locally vs. $93K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Auburn-Opelika compare to the national average for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries?
Auburn-Opelika pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $93K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemistry teachers, postsecondaries make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median is $83,460 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,580, and experienced chemistry teachers, postsecondaries can clear $101,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Auburn-Opelika?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,258/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $995/month, which eats 18.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary go in Auburn-Opelika?
Auburn-Opelika has a Regional Price Parity of 87.93 (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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $94,916 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemistry 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.