Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Cleveland, OH is $77,350/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.92), which stretches that salary to about $82,357 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,279/month, or 25.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $77K actually covers in Cleveland, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cleveland’s Regional Price Parity (93.92). 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 Cleveland
Pay for political science teachers, postsecondary in Cleveland runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,279/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.92 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Cleveland can be a reasonable trade-off for political science teachers, postsecondary who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Cleveland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $80K | $84K |
| Cincinnati | $80K | $84K |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $77K | $83K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $104K | $102K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cleveland, OH
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $92K 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 Cleveland numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Cleveland?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,279/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Cleveland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,774/month. At HUD’s $1,279/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Cleveland?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $77K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Cleveland compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Cleveland pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.92), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Cleveland, OH?
The median is $77,350 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,350, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $131,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Cleveland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,114/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,279/month, which eats 25% 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 Cleveland?
Cleveland has a Regional Price Parity of 93.92 (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 $82,357 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.