Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a sociology teachers, postsecondary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $128,010/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $240K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $112,715 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month, about 34.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $128K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim sits well above the national pay line for sociology teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 52% higher than the U.S. median of $84K. Rent runs $2,601/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $142K | $127K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $158K | $148K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $127K | $120K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $121K | $109K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $128K. Top earners bring in $240K or more, a $173K 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sociology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $128K, rent takes 34.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,988/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Local pay is 52% above the national median — $128K here vs. $84K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 14% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for sociology teachers, postsecondaries?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $128K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s +52%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociology teachers, postsecondaries make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $128,010 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,470, and experienced sociology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $239,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $128K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,517/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 34.6% 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 sociology teachers, postsecondary salary go in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 sociology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $112,715 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.