Communications Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Communications Teachers, Postsecondaries in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA make a median of $103,920 a year. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $234K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $98,577 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $104K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). 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 communications teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro sits well above the national pay line for communications teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,922/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for communications teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $130K | $115K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $134K | $120K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $181K | $170K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $167K | $144K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level communications teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $234K or more, a $176K spread from bottom to top.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Communications Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $135K | +72% | 3,140 |
| Delaware | $100K | +28% | 60 |
| Oregon | $99K | +26% | 490 |
| Connecticut | $97K | +24% | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $96K | +22% | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $96K | +22% | 40 |
| Michigan | $88K | +12% | 630 |
| New York | $85K | +8% | 2,490 |
| District of Columbia | $84K | +7% | 180 |
| Maryland | $84K | +6% | 440 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +6% | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +5% | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $82K | +4% | 70 |
| South Carolina | $80K | +2% | 320 |
| Nebraska | $79K | +1% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | +0% | 640 |
| Illinois | $78K | -1% | 1,580 |
| North Dakota | $78K | -1% | 50 |
| Montana | $78K | -1% | 60 |
| Maine | $78K | -1% | 60 |
| Utah | $78K | -1% | 180 |
| West Virginia | $78K | -1% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | -1% | 1,530 |
| New Jersey | $78K | -1% | 1,380 |
| Iowa | $78K | -1% | 320 |
| Ohio | $78K | -1% | 1,390 |
| Louisiana | $77K | -2% | 170 |
| Texas | $77K | -2% | 2,880 |
| Wyoming | $77K | -2% | 50 |
| Vermont | $76K | -3% | 60 |
| Washington | $75K | -4% | 420 |
| Virginia | $74K | -6% | 790 |
| Georgia | $73K | -7% | 460 |
| Missouri | $72K | -9% | 480 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -9% | 80 |
| Arizona | $71K | -9% | 630 |
| Colorado | $69K | -12% | 560 |
| Oklahoma | $67K | -15% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $67K | -15% | 440 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -16% | 950 |
| Florida | $66K | -16% | 1,260 |
| Indiana | $65K | -17% | 670 |
| Kansas | $64K | -18% | 300 |
| Alabama | $64K | -19% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $62K | -21% | 470 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -22% | 180 |
| Arkansas | $60K | -24% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $50K | -37% | 400 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track communications teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a communications teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for communications teachers, postsecondaries in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new communications teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,488/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is communications teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $104K here vs. $79K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for communications teachers, postsecondaries?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do communications teachers, postsecondaries make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $103,920 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,130, and experienced communications teachers, postsecondaries can clear $233,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,077/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 31.6% 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 communications teachers, postsecondary salary go in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 communications teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $98,577 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do communications 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.