Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $78,010/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $77,268 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Charleston-North Charleston
Pay for political science teachers, postsecondary in Charleston-North Charleston runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $98K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,787/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.96) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for political science teachers, postsecondarys.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Charleston-North Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $101K | $108K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $87K | $87K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $78K | $80K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $78K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $66K 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 Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston-North Charleston?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,787/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Charleston-North Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,468/month. At HUD’s $1,787/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Charleston-North Charleston?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $78K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Charleston-North Charleston compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Charleston-North Charleston pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $78,010 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,130, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $106,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,992/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 35.8% 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 political science teachers, postsecondary salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (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 $77,268 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.