Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, economics teachers, postsecondaries earn $203,720 at the median. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $287K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $176,213 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $204K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont sits well above the national pay line for economics teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 64% higher than the U.S. median of $124K. Rent runs $3,604/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $138K | $121K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $100K | $94K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $164K | $149K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $141K | $126K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level economics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $204K. Top earners bring in $287K or more, a $206K 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $204K, rent takes 31.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $3,400/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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,870/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 74% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Local pay is 64% above the national median — $204K here vs. $124K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 16% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for economics teachers, postsecondaries?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $204K median vs. the U.S. average of $124K — that’s +64%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $176K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economics teachers, postsecondaries make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $203,720 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,160, and experienced economics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $286,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $204K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,383/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 31.7% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (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 $176,213 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.