Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA is $131,440/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $244K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.67), so that salary is closer to $123,221 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,255/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom’s Regional Price Parity (106.67). 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom sits well above the national pay line for political science teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Rent runs $2,255/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 7% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.67), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for political science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, 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 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $151K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $244K or more, a $173K 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 29.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,255/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,250/month. At HUD’s $2,255/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $131K here vs. $98K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 7% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
The median is $131,440 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,840, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $243,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,255/month, which eats 29.3% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom has a Regional Price Parity of 106.67 (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 $123,221 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.