Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a psychology teachers, postsecondary in Columbia, SC is $100,260/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $107,047 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $100K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Columbia
Columbia sits well above the national pay line for psychology teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $80K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 20.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Columbia offers a genuinely strong financial position for psychology teachers, postsecondarys at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $77K | $76K |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $64K | $68K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $82K | $82K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $78K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level psychology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $107K | +34% | 4,410 |
| Delaware | $102K | +27% | N/A |
| Maryland | $101K | +26% | 640 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +26% | 340 |
| New York | $101K | +25% | 4,070 |
| Michigan | $100K | +24% | 920 |
| North Dakota | $97K | +21% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $95K | +18% | 110 |
| Rhode Island | $94K | +17% | 180 |
| Utah | $93K | +16% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $91K | +14% | 140 |
| Connecticut | $85K | +5% | 920 |
| New Mexico | $84K | +4% | 100 |
| Idaho | $83K | +3% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +3% | 2,640 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +3% | 760 |
| Maine | $82K | +2% | 110 |
| Nevada | $81K | +1% | 140 |
| Vermont | $81K | +1% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +1% | 1,630 |
| Oregon | $80K | -0% | 660 |
| Kansas | $80K | -1% | 230 |
| Georgia | $79K | -1% | 820 |
| Missouri | $79K | -1% | 590 |
| Alaska | $79K | -2% | 70 |
| Arizona | $79K | -2% | 940 |
| Ohio | $79K | -2% | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $78K | -2% | 320 |
| Washington | $78K | -3% | 840 |
| Virginia | $78K | -3% | 1,050 |
| Illinois | $78K | -3% | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $78K | -3% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -3% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $77K | -4% | 170 |
| Montana | $77K | -4% | 90 |
| Texas | $77K | -4% | 3,380 |
| Colorado | $77K | -4% | 960 |
| Tennessee | $76K | -5% | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -5% | 2,120 |
| Alabama | $75K | -6% | 610 |
| North Carolina | $75K | -6% | 1,100 |
| South Carolina | $75K | -7% | 390 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -7% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -8% | 150 |
| Florida | $69K | -14% | 1,120 |
| Wyoming | $65K | -19% | 80 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -19% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -22% | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -23% | 410 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -24% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track psychology teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a psychology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 20.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,926/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is psychology teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $100K here vs. $80K nationally.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for psychology teachers, postsecondaries?
Columbia pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondaries make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $100,260 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,760, and experienced psychology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $159,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,178/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 20.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a psychology teachers, postsecondary salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (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 psychology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $107,047 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychology 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.