Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI is $85,180/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $89,147 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,519/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary pay in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood tracks closely to the national median, $85K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,519/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $84K | $83K |
| Ann Arbor | $106K | $105K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $95K | $99K |
| 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, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
Entry-level philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $64K 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,519/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,840/month. At HUD’s $1,519/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $85K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood compare to the national average for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries make in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI?
The median is $85,180 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,340, and experienced philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries can clear $111,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,391/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,519/month, which eats 28.2% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (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 $89,147 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.
