Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, economics teachers, postsecondaries earn $104,420 at the median. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $200K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $93,962 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $104K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Pay for economics teachers, postsecondary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $124K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 36.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for economics teachers, postsecondarys.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for economics teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $121K | $115K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level economics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $200K or more, a $131K 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,000/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,136/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $104K here vs. $124K nationally.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for economics teachers, postsecondaries?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $124K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do economics teachers, postsecondaries make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $104,420 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,930, and experienced economics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $199,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,821/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 36.7% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $93,962 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.