Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $102,310/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $93,966 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 35.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $102K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Political science teachers, postsecondary pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 36.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $92K | $94K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | $101K |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $102K | $98K |
| Harrisonburg | $97K | $103K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $105K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 36.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,796/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $102,310 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,270, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $167,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,209/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 36.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a political science teachers, postsecondary salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $93,966 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.