Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Fresno, CA is $128,820/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $179K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.16), that's roughly $126,096 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,664/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $129K actually covers in Fresno, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fresno’s Regional Price Parity (102.16). 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 Fresno
Fresno sits well above the national pay line for political science teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,664/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.16) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Fresno offers a genuinely strong financial position for political science teachers, postsecondary at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Fresno, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $120K | $105K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $105K | $94K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $119K | $108K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $82K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fresno, CA
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $179K or more, a $103K 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 Fresno 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 Fresno?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,664/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Fresno?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,910/month. At HUD’s $1,664/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Fresno?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $129K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Fresno compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Fresno pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Fresno, CA?
The median is $128,820 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,450, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $179,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Fresno?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,557/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,664/month, which eats 22% 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 Fresno?
Fresno has a Regional Price Parity of 102.16 (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 $126,096 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.