Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a physics teachers, postsecondary in Auburn-Opelika, AL is $82,750/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.93), which stretches that salary to about $94,109 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $995/month, or 19% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Auburn-Opelika?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Auburn-Opelika’s Regional Price Parity (87.93). 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Auburn-Opelika
Pay for physics teachers, postsecondary in Auburn-Opelika runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $995/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Auburn-Opelika can be a reasonable trade-off for physics teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physics teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Auburn-Opelika, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $107K | $107K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $87K | $91K |
| Knoxville | $99K | $107K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $81K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Auburn-Opelika, AL
Entry-level physics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $139K | +39% | 1,130 |
| Connecticut | $112K | +12% | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $111K | +11% | 680 |
| Maryland | $111K | +11% | 300 |
| Michigan | $109K | +9% | 460 |
| New Mexico | $109K | +9% | 70 |
| Delaware | $109K | +8% | 70 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +7% | 250 |
| Idaho | $106K | +6% | 50 |
| Virginia | $104K | +4% | 610 |
| Oregon | $104K | +4% | 230 |
| Maine | $104K | +4% | 60 |
| Iowa | $104K | +4% | 120 |
| New York | $103K | +3% | 1,080 |
| Indiana | $103K | +3% | 270 |
| North Dakota | $102K | +1% | 40 |
| Georgia | $102K | +1% | 210 |
| Missouri | $100K | -0% | 230 |
| Utah | $100K | -0% | 120 |
| Colorado | $99K | -1% | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $99K | -1% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $99K | -1% | 530 |
| Nebraska | $98K | -2% | 70 |
| Vermont | $98K | -2% | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -2% | 580 |
| West Virginia | $98K | -2% | 50 |
| Montana | $98K | -2% | 70 |
| Texas | $98K | -3% | 1,110 |
| Kansas | $97K | -3% | 110 |
| Washington | $97K | -3% | 310 |
| Nevada | $96K | -4% | 90 |
| Ohio | $96K | -4% | 420 |
| Illinois | $95K | -5% | 540 |
| Oklahoma | $92K | -9% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $90K | -10% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $90K | -11% | 210 |
| North Carolina | $87K | -13% | 440 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -14% | 30 |
| District of Columbia | $85K | -15% | 130 |
| Alabama | $83K | -18% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $81K | -19% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -20% | 340 |
| Kentucky | $80K | -20% | 160 |
| Florida | $74K | -26% | 180 |
| Mississippi | $71K | -29% | 100 |
| Arizona | $66K | -34% | 350 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -35% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physics teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Auburn-Opelika numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a physics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $995/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physics teachers, postsecondaries in Auburn-Opelika?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,511/month. At HUD’s $995/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Auburn-Opelika?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $83K here vs. $100K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Auburn-Opelika compare to the national average for physics teachers, postsecondaries?
Auburn-Opelika pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do physics teachers, postsecondaries make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median is $82,750 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,510, and experienced physics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $101,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Auburn-Opelika?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,219/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $995/month, which eats 19.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physics teachers, postsecondary salary go in Auburn-Opelika?
Auburn-Opelika has a Regional Price Parity of 87.93 (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 physics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $94,109 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physics 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.