Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC is $77,870/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $141K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.35), that's roughly $79,990 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,686/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K get you in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia’s Regional Price Parity (97.35). 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Pay for political science teachers, postsecondary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $98K. Rent runs $1,686/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.35) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point | $78K | $83K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $87K | $87K |
| Richmond | $92K | $94K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | $101K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $141K or more, a $97K 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,686/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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,632/month. At HUD’s $1,686/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $78K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.35), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median is $77,870 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,870, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $140,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,972/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,686/month, which eats 33.9% 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has a Regional Price Parity of 97.35 (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 political science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $79,990 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.