English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Portland-South Portland, ME, english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries earn $80,580 at the median. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $79,109 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month, about 42.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $81K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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 Portland-South Portland
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in Portland-South Portland tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,130/month, which is 42% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Portland-South Portland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $67K | $69K |
| Manchester-Nashua | $103K | $97K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $99K 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 Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a english language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 42% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,687/month. At HUD’s $2,130/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Portland-South Portland pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $80,580 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,450, and experienced english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $160,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 42% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (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 $79,109 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.