English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries earn $87,020 at the median. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $80,373 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 53.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $87K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). 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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 54.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $80K | $78K |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $102K | $101K |
| Springfield | $86K | $90K |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $77K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $112K spread from bottom to top.
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $130K | +66% | 5,460 |
| New Hampshire | $99K | +25% | 230 |
| Connecticut | $97K | +24% | 940 |
| Delaware | $97K | +23% | N/A |
| Oregon | $92K | +17% | 960 |
| Michigan | $90K | +15% | 1,730 |
| Vermont | $87K | +10% | 170 |
| Nevada | $86K | +9% | 280 |
| New York | $85K | +8% | 6,110 |
| Maine | $84K | +7% | 230 |
| Minnesota | $84K | +7% | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +7% | 2,900 |
| Maryland | $84K | +6% | 830 |
| Alaska | $83K | +5% | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +4% | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $81K | +3% | 840 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | +2% | 2,530 |
| Washington | $80K | +1% | 1,000 |
| Iowa | $80K | +1% | 510 |
| Rhode Island | $79K | +1% | 540 |
| Texas | $79K | +0% | 4,310 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +0% | 1,950 |
| Nebraska | $78K | -0% | 500 |
| Illinois | $78K | -2% | 2,570 |
| Arizona | $77K | -2% | 870 |
| Utah | $73K | -7% | 420 |
| Montana | $73K | -7% | 130 |
| Missouri | $73K | -7% | 1,040 |
| Colorado | $73K | -7% | 1,220 |
| Indiana | $69K | -12% | 1,000 |
| Virginia | $67K | -15% | 1,810 |
| New Mexico | $66K | -16% | 230 |
| Georgia | $66K | -17% | 1,140 |
| Ohio | $65K | -17% | 2,240 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -17% | 540 |
| South Carolina | $64K | -18% | 840 |
| Tennessee | $64K | -18% | 1,150 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -19% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -20% | 2,140 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -20% | 250 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -20% | 110 |
| Alabama | $63K | -20% | 1,040 |
| Kansas | $62K | -21% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -21% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -23% | 530 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -23% | 430 |
| Florida | $60K | -24% | 2,480 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -28% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -32% | 500 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track english language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a english language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 54.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,796/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is english language and literature teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $87,020 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,260, and experienced english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $175,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 54.1% 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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $80,373 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do english language and literature 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.