Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in New Mexico is $80,640/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $86,654 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 22% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $81K actually covers in New Mexico, month by month
About political science teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for political science teachers, postsecondary in New Mexico runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, New Mexico can be a reasonable trade-off for political science teachers, postsecondary who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track political science teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,033/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is political science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $81K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
New Mexico pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in New Mexico?
The median is $80,640 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,120, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $127,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,180/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 21.6% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $86,654 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.