Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a psychology teachers, postsecondary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $79,400/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $71,448 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 45.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $79K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Psychology teachers, postsecondary pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 46.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $64K | $64K |
| Bellingham | $79K | $76K |
| Walla Walla | $73K | $74K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $82K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level psychology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $64K 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a psychology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 46.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,577/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for psychology teachers, postsecondaries?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondaries make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $79,400 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,610, and experienced psychology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $123,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,354/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 46.7% 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 psychology teachers, postsecondary salary go in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 psychology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $71,448 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.