Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a physics teachers, postsecondary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $100,770/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $95,264 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,169/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $101K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Denver-Aurora-Centennial’s Regional Price Parity (105.78). 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Physics teachers, postsecondary pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $2,169/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. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physics teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $74K | $72K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level physics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $99K 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 annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a physics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 34.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physics teachers, postsecondaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,145/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for physics teachers, postsecondaries?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do physics teachers, postsecondaries make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $100,770 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,800, and experienced physics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $161,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,237/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/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 physics teachers, postsecondary salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 105.78 (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 physics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $95,264 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.