Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a sociology teachers, postsecondary in Portland-South Portland, ME is $61,700/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $60,573 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month, about 52.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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 Portland-South Portland
Pay for sociology teachers, postsecondary in Portland-South Portland runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $84K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,130/month, which is 52.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for sociology teachers, postsecondarys.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $76K 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 |
| Kansas | $79K | -7% | 110 |
| Colorado | $79K | -7% | 220 |
| 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
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 Portland-South Portland numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a sociology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 52.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,702/month. At HUD’s $2,130/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $62K here vs. $84K nationally.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for sociology teachers, postsecondaries?
Portland-South Portland pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do sociology teachers, postsecondaries make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $61,700 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,700, and experienced sociology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $137,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,056/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 52.5% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (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 $60,573 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.