Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a political science teachers, postsecondary in West Virginia is $77,420/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $86,959 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $77K get you in West Virginia?
About political science teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for political science teachers, postsecondary in West Virginia runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 20.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for political science teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level political science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track political science teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 20.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political science teachers, postsecondaries in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,602/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $77K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for political science teachers, postsecondaries?
West Virginia pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do political science teachers, postsecondaries make in West Virginia?
The median is $77,420 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,370, and experienced political science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $125,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,981/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 20.2% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $86,959 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.