Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaries in Virginia make a median of $74,000 a year. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $78,067 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Virginia?
About foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Virginia
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $81K | +10% | 190 |
| Harrisonburg | $80K | +9% | 60 |
| Richmond | $69K | -7% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 34.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,957/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Virginia pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — below the national median.
How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Virginia?
The median is $74,000 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,290, and experienced foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $131,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,726/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 34.8% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $78,067 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.