Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other in Columbia, MO is $81,240/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $90,832 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,160/month, or 22.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). 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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others
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What this looks like in Columbia
Columbia sits well above the national pay line for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,160/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Columbia offers a genuinely strong financial position for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $65K | $70K |
| St. Louis | $79K | $83K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $63K | $61K |
| Knoxville | $65K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $133K | +82% | 2,760 |
| Rhode Island | $127K | +73% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $102K | +40% | 110 |
| Utah | $102K | +40% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $98K | +35% | 410 |
| Michigan | $97K | +34% | 220 |
| Virginia | $95K | +30% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $90K | +23% | 60 |
| Iowa | $84K | +15% | 150 |
| Vermont | $84K | +15% | 50 |
| Nevada | $84K | +15% | 150 |
| New York | $79K | +8% | 1,840 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | +8% | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $77K | +6% | 60 |
| Missouri | $76K | +4% | 290 |
| Indiana | $74K | +2% | 170 |
| Connecticut | $74K | +1% | 110 |
| Texas | $74K | +1% | 1,530 |
| Ohio | $74K | +1% | 200 |
| Washington | $73K | -0% | 80 |
| Oregon | $72K | -1% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $72K | -2% | 240 |
| Arizona | $71K | -2% | 370 |
| Maryland | $69K | -6% | 500 |
| Maine | $66K | -9% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $66K | -10% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -11% | 340 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -13% | 70 |
| Illinois | $63K | -13% | 1,700 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -13% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $63K | -13% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -15% | N/A |
| Idaho | $61K | -16% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -17% | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -17% | 40 |
| Florida | $57K | -22% | 1,390 |
| Georgia | $54K | -26% | 320 |
| Kansas | $52K | -29% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | -33% | 1,090 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -49% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,942/month. At HUD’s $1,160/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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $81K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others?
Columbia pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $81,240 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,040, and experienced social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others can clear $125,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,204/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 22.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other salary is worth about $90,832 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others 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.