Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a sociology teachers, postsecondary in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $111,290/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $181K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $117,160 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 18% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $111K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Lansing-East Lansing
Lansing-East Lansing sits well above the national pay line for sociology teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $84K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,268/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.99 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Lansing-East Lansing offers a genuinely strong financial position for sociology teachers, postsecondarys at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Lansing-East Lansing, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $95K | $95K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $82K | $86K |
| 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, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $111K. Top earners bring in $181K or more, a $113K 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 Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a sociology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lansing-East Lansing?
Yes — at the median salary of $111K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in Lansing-East Lansing?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,121/month. At HUD’s $1,268/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $111K here vs. $84K nationally.
How does Lansing-East Lansing compare to the national average for sociology teachers, postsecondaries?
Lansing-East Lansing pays $111K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.99), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociology teachers, postsecondaries make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $111,290 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,680, and experienced sociology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $181,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $111K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,829/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 18.6% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 $117,160 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.
