Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Lexington-Fayette, KY is $121,300/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.89), which stretches that salary to about $130,585 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $121K get you in Lexington-Fayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lexington-Fayette’s Regional Price Parity (92.89). 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 Lexington-Fayette
Lexington-Fayette sits well above the national pay line for political science teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 17.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Lexington-Fayette offers a genuinely strong financial position for political science teachers, postsecondarys at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Lexington-Fayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $101K | $97K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | $101K |
| Richmond | $92K | $94K |
| Columbus | $80K | $84K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lexington-Fayette, KY
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $121K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $165K 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
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 Lexington-Fayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lexington-Fayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $121K, rent takes 17.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Lexington-Fayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,624/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Lexington-Fayette?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $121K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Lexington-Fayette compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Lexington-Fayette pays $121K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median is $121,300 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,740, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $208,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $121K enough to live in Lexington-Fayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 17.2% 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 Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette has a Regional Price Parity of 92.89 (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 $130,585 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.