Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $102,430/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $98,029 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 29.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). 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 political science teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Political science teachers, postsecondary pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) 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 political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $102K | $94K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $104K | $102K |
| Pittsburgh | $95K | $101K |
| Richmond | $92K | $94K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $151K spread from bottom to top.
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $128K | +31% | 920 |
| California | $125K | +27% | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $124K | +27% | 90 |
| Montana | $109K | +11% | N/A |
| Vermont | $107K | +10% | 80 |
| Michigan | $107K | +9% | 380 |
| Maryland | $106K | +8% | 370 |
| New York | $104K | +6% | 1,460 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +4% | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $101K | +3% | 830 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +3% | 170 |
| Washington | $101K | +3% | 450 |
| Illinois | $101K | +3% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $100K | +2% | 650 |
| Connecticut | $100K | +2% | 320 |
| Arizona | $100K | +2% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $97K | -1% | 660 |
| Minnesota | $97K | -1% | 250 |
| Maine | $97K | -1% | 60 |
| Missouri | $95K | -4% | 280 |
| Nevada | $93K | -5% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $88K | -10% | 70 |
| Texas | $87K | -11% | 1,890 |
| Nebraska | $86K | -12% | 50 |
| Wyoming | $85K | -14% | 40 |
| Indiana | $84K | -15% | 630 |
| Oregon | $84K | -15% | 540 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -15% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -17% | 250 |
| New Mexico | $81K | -18% | 40 |
| Utah | $81K | -18% | 70 |
| Iowa | $80K | -18% | 100 |
| Ohio | $80K | -18% | 460 |
| Georgia | $80K | -19% | 470 |
| Kansas | $79K | -20% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $79K | -20% | 440 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -20% | 140 |
| South Carolina | $79K | -20% | 210 |
| Florida | $78K | -21% | 270 |
| Alabama | $78K | -21% | 180 |
| West Virginia | $77K | -21% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $73K | -26% | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $63K | -35% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $59K | -40% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $58K | -41% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track political science teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,682/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is political science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $102,430 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,360, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $212,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,313/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a political science teachers, postsecondary salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (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 political science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $98,029 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do political science 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.