Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondaries in Columbia, SC make a median of $99,340 a year. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $201K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $106,064 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 20.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $99K 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Columbia
Columbia sits well above the national pay line for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 20.8% 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondarys at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $78K | $77K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $65K | $67K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $79K | $81K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $73K | $75K |
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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $201K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +65% | 1,950 |
| Maryland | $98K | +26% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $88K | +14% | 290 |
| Michigan | $84K | +8% | 320 |
| Wyoming | $83K | +8% | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | +8% | 640 |
| Wisconsin | $81K | +4% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +4% | 260 |
| New York | $80K | +4% | 670 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +2% | 190 |
| New Mexico | $79K | +2% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $79K | +2% | 280 |
| Texas | $76K | -1% | 1,460 |
| Utah | $76K | -1% | 110 |
| Florida | $76K | -2% | 140 |
| Iowa | $75K | -3% | 100 |
| Washington | $75K | -3% | 240 |
| North Carolina | $74K | -4% | 730 |
| Tennessee | $73K | -5% | 220 |
| Missouri | $73K | -5% | 200 |
| Alabama | $73K | -6% | 110 |
| Arizona | $71K | -8% | 90 |
| Ohio | $70K | -9% | 420 |
| Maine | $68K | -12% | 40 |
| Illinois | $67K | -13% | 630 |
| Indiana | $67K | -13% | 410 |
| West Virginia | $66K | -14% | 100 |
| Georgia | $66K | -14% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $66K | -15% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $66K | -15% | 520 |
| Colorado | $66K | -15% | 180 |
| Virginia | $65K | -15% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -16% | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -18% | 110 |
| Oregon | $63K | -18% | 480 |
| Arkansas | $63K | -18% | 110 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -19% | 60 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -22% | 190 |
| Kansas | $60K | -23% | 60 |
| Idaho | $59K | -24% | 70 |
| Alaska | $58K | -25% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track recreation and fitness studies 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 20.8% 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,691/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $99K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries?
Columbia pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $99,340 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,180, and experienced recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries can clear $200,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,129/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 20.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a recreation and fitness studies 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $106,064 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do recreation and fitness studies 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.
