Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a sociology teachers, postsecondary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $79,330/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $86,060 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 Memphis
Sociology teachers, postsecondary pay in Memphis tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $84K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,274/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Memphis, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $83K | $90K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $85K | $88K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $102K | $102K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $80K | $82K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $49K 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 Memphis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sociology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Memphis?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,274/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sociology teachers, postsecondaries in Memphis?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,926/month. At HUD’s $1,274/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Memphis?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $84K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Memphis compare to the national average for sociology teachers, postsecondaries?
Memphis pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociology teachers, postsecondaries make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $79,330 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,760, and experienced sociology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $97,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 23.8% 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 Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 $86,060 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.