Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR make a median of $76,010 a year. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $82,458 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $76K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 Memphis
Pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondary in Memphis runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $93K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Memphis can be a reasonable trade-off for chemistry teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $88K | $96K |
| Chattanooga | $74K | $81K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $103K | $103K |
| St. Louis | $101K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level chemistry teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $80K 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 Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemistry teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemistry teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,857/month. At HUD’s $1,274/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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Memphis?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $76K here vs. $93K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries?
Memphis pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $93K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do chemistry teachers, postsecondaries make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $76,010 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,620, and experienced chemistry teachers, postsecondaries can clear $127,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $82,458 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.