Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $85,550/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $76,982 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $86K actually covers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $75K | $75K |
| Boise City | $59K | $60K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $85K | $81K |
| Eugene-Springfield | $90K | $89K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $65K 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 annually. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,447/month. At HUD’s $2,501/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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $85,550 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,930, and experienced philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondaries can clear $129,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,714/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 43.8% 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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary salary go in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $76,982 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.