Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $73,760/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $80,436 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $74K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $78K | $88K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $79K | $76K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $81K | $77K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $79K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $106K | +32% | 1,850 |
| Maine | $103K | +28% | 60 |
| Vermont | $103K | +28% | 80 |
| Hawaii | $101K | +26% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $100K | +25% | 350 |
| New Jersey | $99K | +24% | 900 |
| Massachusetts | $98K | +23% | 890 |
| Utah | $95K | +19% | 60 |
| New York | $92K | +15% | 1,700 |
| Michigan | $90K | +12% | 620 |
| Virginia | $85K | +6% | 620 |
| Oregon | $85K | +6% | 480 |
| New Hampshire | $83K | +3% | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $83K | +3% | 150 |
| Washington | $81K | +1% | 330 |
| Indiana | $80K | -1% | 480 |
| Minnesota | $80K | -1% | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $79K | -1% | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -1% | 420 |
| Arizona | $79K | -2% | 350 |
| Maryland | $78K | -2% | 480 |
| Colorado | $78K | -3% | 390 |
| Illinois | $78K | -3% | 1,080 |
| Georgia | $78K | -3% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $77K | -4% | 250 |
| Iowa | $77K | -4% | 260 |
| Ohio | $77K | -4% | 780 |
| Texas | $77K | -4% | 1,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | -5% | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -5% | 680 |
| Louisiana | $76K | -5% | 70 |
| Missouri | $75K | -6% | 320 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -6% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $74K | -8% | 60 |
| Tennessee | $74K | -8% | 490 |
| North Dakota | $71K | -11% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $66K | -18% | 320 |
| Kansas | $65K | -19% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $65K | -19% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $64K | -21% | 90 |
| Florida | $63K | -21% | 460 |
| Alabama | $62K | -22% | 280 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -28% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 28% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,189/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $73,760 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,490, and experienced philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries can clear $125,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,708/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $80,436 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do philosophy and religion 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.