Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a sociology teachers, postsecondary in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI is $82,320/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $86,154 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,519/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). 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 sociology teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
Sociology teachers, postsecondary pay in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $84K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,519/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $95K | $95K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $111K | $117K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $99K | $102K |
| Columbus | $84K | $88K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
Entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +51% | 810 |
| Delaware | $124K | +47% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $113K | +34% | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $103K | +22% | 70 |
| Michigan | $103K | +22% | 370 |
| Oregon | $102K | +21% | 150 |
| Connecticut | $101K | +20% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $100K | +18% | 440 |
| Utah | $99K | +18% | 70 |
| New York | $98K | +16% | 1,130 |
| Massachusetts | $97K | +15% | 580 |
| Maryland | $96K | +14% | 200 |
| Vermont | $88K | +4% | 40 |
| Nevada | $87K | +4% | 100 |
| Minnesota | $87K | +4% | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $85K | +1% | 450 |
| Georgia | $84K | +0% | 230 |
| Idaho | $84K | -0% | 50 |
| Louisiana | $84K | -1% | 80 |
| Washington | $83K | -1% | 200 |
| Illinois | $83K | -2% | 440 |
| Iowa | $82K | -3% | 140 |
| Texas | $81K | -4% | 1,040 |
| Indiana | $80K | -5% | 290 |
| Ohio | $80K | -5% | 550 |
| Colorado | $79K | -7% | 220 |
| Kansas | $79K | -7% | 110 |
| Arizona | $78K | -7% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -7% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $78K | -7% | 550 |
| Virginia | $78K | -7% | 400 |
| Missouri | $78K | -8% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $78K | -8% | 50 |
| West Virginia | $77K | -8% | 60 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -8% | 190 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -9% | 550 |
| Nebraska | $76K | -10% | 70 |
| Maine | $76K | -10% | 80 |
| Montana | $76K | -10% | 30 |
| Alabama | $74K | -13% | 210 |
| Mississippi | $71K | -16% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $65K | -23% | 120 |
| South Dakota | $64K | -24% | 40 |
| Florida | $63K | -25% | 230 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -26% | 30 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -27% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track sociology teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sociology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 29% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,519/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,378/month. At HUD’s $1,519/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sociology teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $84K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood compare to the national average for sociology teachers, postsecondaries?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociology teachers, postsecondaries make in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI?
The median is $82,320 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,640, and experienced sociology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $109,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,233/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,519/month, which eats 29% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sociology teachers, postsecondary salary go in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood?
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (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 sociology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $86,154 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sociology 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.