Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $131,690/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $259K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $121,631 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $132K actually covers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits well above the national pay line for political science teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 37.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $105K | $105K |
| Worcester | $102K | $99K |
| Syracuse | $95K | $99K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $107K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $259K or more, a $177K 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 annually. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 37.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,155/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $132K here vs. $98K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $122K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $131,690 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,820, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $258,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,848/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 37.5% 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 political science teachers, postsecondary salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (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 $121,631 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.