Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondaries in Washington make a median of $72,700 a year. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $71,268 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 36.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Washington?
About criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Washington
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 36.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Washington
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $79K | +9% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 36.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,902/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries?
Washington pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries make in Washington?
The median is $72,700 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,360, and experienced criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondaries can clear $106,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,961/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 36.9% 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 criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $71,268 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do criminal justice and law enforcement 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.