English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Memphis, TN-MS-AR, english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries earn $77,400 at the median. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $83,966 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 Memphis
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in Memphis tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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 Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $66K | $69K |
| Knoxville | $64K | $69K |
| Chattanooga | $60K | $65K |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $59K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $50K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a english language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,848/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Memphis?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Memphis pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $77,400 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,460, and experienced english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $97,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,236/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 24.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a english language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary go in Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median english language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $83,966 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.