Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR make a median of $63,390 a year. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $68,768 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $63K 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Memphis
Pay for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary in Memphis runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,274/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $79K | $85K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $76K | $79K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $80K | $80K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $81K | $83K |
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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $102K | +28% | 150 |
| Delaware | $101K | +27% | 70 |
| California | $100K | +26% | 2,170 |
| Massachusetts | $99K | +24% | 960 |
| Maine | $97K | +22% | 70 |
| New York | $95K | +20% | 1,520 |
| Oregon | $92K | +16% | 510 |
| Maryland | $87K | +10% | 280 |
| Nevada | $85K | +7% | 90 |
| Michigan | $83K | +5% | 500 |
| Illinois | $82K | +3% | 690 |
| South Dakota | $81K | +2% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $81K | +2% | 410 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +2% | 340 |
| Montana | $80K | +1% | 80 |
| Iowa | $80K | +1% | 210 |
| New Jersey | $79K | -0% | 850 |
| District of Columbia | $79K | -1% | 360 |
| Utah | $79K | -1% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -1% | 450 |
| Washington | $78K | -1% | 370 |
| Colorado | $78K | -2% | 410 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -2% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | -3% | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $76K | -4% | 80 |
| Tennessee | $76K | -4% | 310 |
| West Virginia | $76K | -4% | 40 |
| Florida | $76K | -4% | 430 |
| Missouri | $76K | -4% | 330 |
| Louisiana | $75K | -5% | 130 |
| Texas | $75K | -5% | 1,460 |
| Indiana | $75K | -6% | 660 |
| Ohio | $74K | -6% | 960 |
| Virginia | $74K | -7% | 890 |
| Georgia | $73K | -8% | 280 |
| New Mexico | $72K | -10% | 60 |
| Arizona | $71K | -10% | 360 |
| Alabama | $71K | -11% | 110 |
| Kansas | $66K | -17% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $66K | -17% | 180 |
| North Dakota | $65K | -19% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -19% | 690 |
| Arkansas | $63K | -21% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -22% | 80 |
| Mississippi | $55K | -31% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track foreign 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 28.9% 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,900/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Memphis?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $63K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Memphis pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $63,390 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,330, and experienced foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $80,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,414/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a foreign 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $68,768 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.