Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaries in California make a median of $99,860 a year. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $94,083 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 39.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in California?
About foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $79K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 40.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $163K spread from bottom to top.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in California
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $172K | +72% | 130 |
| Fresno | $167K | +67% | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $126K | +26% | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $115K | +15% | 240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $106K | +6% | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $103K | +3% | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $97K | -3% | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $83K | -17% | 800 |
Compare to other states
Track foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 40.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,735/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 90% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $100K here vs. $79K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
California pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in California?
The median is $99,860 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,580, and experienced foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $208,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,101/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 40.5% 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $94,083 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do foreign 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.