Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, economics teachers, postsecondaries earn $202,030 at the median. The range runs from $121K at the entry level to $260K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $185,689 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,124/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $202K get you in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Maria-Santa Barbara’s Regional Price Parity (108.8). 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara sits well above the national pay line for economics teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 63% higher than the U.S. median of $124K. Rent runs $3,124/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.8), 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level economics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $121K. Mid-career wages sit at $202K. Top earners bring in $260K or more, a $139K 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
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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Yes — at the median salary of $202K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,124/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for economics teachers, postsecondaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $121K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,237/month. At HUD’s $3,124/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Local pay is 63% above the national median — $202K here vs. $124K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Santa Maria-Santa Barbara compare to the national average for economics teachers, postsecondaries?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara pays $202K median vs. the U.S. average of $124K — that’s +63%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $186K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do economics teachers, postsecondaries make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $202,030 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $120,620, and experienced economics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $259,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $202K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,292/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 27.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a economics teachers, postsecondary salary go in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a Regional Price Parity of 108.8 (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 $185,689 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.