Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, economics teachers, postsecondaries earn $137,740 at the median. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $316K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $121,282 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $138K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). 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 economics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim sits well above the national pay line for economics teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $124K. Rent runs $2,601/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economics teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $100K | $94K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $164K | $149K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $141K | $126K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $204K | $176K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level economics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $316K or more, a $247K spread from bottom to top.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $202K | +63% | 80 |
| Massachusetts | $164K | +33% | 750 |
| District of Columbia | $162K | +31% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $156K | +26% | 300 |
| California | $137K | +11% | 770 |
| Arizona | $137K | +11% | 100 |
| Oregon | $136K | +10% | 180 |
| Vermont | $135K | +9% | 80 |
| Maryland | $134K | +8% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $133K | +7% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $131K | +6% | 90 |
| Michigan | $129K | +4% | 350 |
| Virginia | $129K | +4% | 460 |
| Utah | $128K | +4% | 150 |
| New York | $128K | +3% | 1,240 |
| Maine | $126K | +2% | 70 |
| Illinois | $125K | +1% | 460 |
| Texas | $119K | -4% | 770 |
| Pennsylvania | $118K | -5% | 610 |
| Georgia | $118K | -5% | 370 |
| Missouri | $117K | -6% | 150 |
| North Carolina | $114K | -8% | 490 |
| New Mexico | $110K | -11% | 60 |
| New Jersey | $110K | -11% | 410 |
| South Carolina | $109K | -12% | 110 |
| Minnesota | $108K | -12% | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $107K | -13% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $106K | -14% | 120 |
| Ohio | $106K | -15% | 410 |
| Indiana | $105K | -15% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $105K | -16% | 250 |
| Kansas | $103K | -16% | 130 |
| Alabama | $101K | -18% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $100K | -19% | 310 |
| Colorado | $99K | -20% | 270 |
| Washington | $97K | -22% | 190 |
| West Virginia | $91K | -26% | 40 |
| Florida | $91K | -26% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $88K | -29% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -31% | 40 |
| Iowa | $85K | -31% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $77K | -38% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track economics teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for economics teachers, postsecondaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,178/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is economics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $138K here vs. $124K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 14% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for economics teachers, postsecondaries?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $124K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — below the national median.
How much do economics teachers, postsecondaries make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $137,740 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,640, and experienced economics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $316,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,996/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 32.5% 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 economics teachers, postsecondary salary go in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 economics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $121,282 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do economics 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.