What is the best state to be a psychology teachers, postsecondary?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a psychology teachers, postsecondary: a BLS median of $97,110 is worth $108,425 after the 2025 state income tax ($656) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 133.7 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a psychology teachers, postsecondary at $107,340, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #6 of 50 on real pay (index 113.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a psychology teachers, postsecondary salary go least far?

Florida ranks last of 50 states for a psychology teachers, postsecondary: a $69,050 BLS median is worth only $66,770 after tax and cost of living (index 82.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Best States to Be a Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a psychology teachers, postsecondary salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $97,110 BLS median worth $108,425 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 133.7).

Which US states are best for a psychology teachers, postsecondary after cost of living and tax?

For a psychology teachers, postsecondary, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $97,110 BLS median becomes $108,425 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 133.7). Florida ranks last ($66,770, index 82.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #1 of 50 states for a psychology teachers, postsecondary. Index 100 = the average state; 133.7 means pay goes 33.7% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

133.7

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$97,110	$656	89.0	$108,425	133.7
2	Louisiana	$91,340	$2,365	88.2	$100,870	124.4
3	Michigan	$99,900	$3,999	96.2	$99,671	122.9
4	Delaware	$102,340	$5,413	99.8	$97,113	119.8
5	Maryland	$101,430	$4,485	105.0	$92,364	113.9
6	California	$107,340	$5,861	110.7	$91,654	113.0
7	New Hampshire	$95,030	—	104.2	$91,230	112.5
8	Utah	$93,090	$4,236	98.9	$89,875	110.8
9	Rhode Island	$94,360	$2,939	102.3	$89,384	110.2
10	New York	$100,720	$4,995	107.9	$88,699	109.4
11	New Mexico	$83,600	$2,819	92.2	$87,603	108.0
12	District of Columbia	$101,250	$5,731	109.9	$86,913	107.2
13	Iowa	$78,450	$2,941	87.8	$86,038	106.1
14	Kansas	$79,730	$3,649	90.1	$84,470	104.2
15	Missouri	$79,240	$2,843	90.8	$84,122	103.7
16	Ohio	$78,530	$1,377	92.8	$83,162	102.6
17	Idaho	$83,010	$3,607	95.5	$83,150	102.5
18	Tennessee	$76,010	—	91.9	$82,736	102.0
19	Nebraska	$77,340	$2,926	90.1	$82,588	101.8
20	Nevada	$81,300	—	100.0	$81,317	100.3
21	Indiana	$77,820	$2,305	93.3	$80,913	99.8
22	Alabama	$75,340	$3,502	88.8	$80,878	99.7
23	Maine	$81,660	$3,897	97.0	$80,126	98.8
24	West Virginia	$74,280	$2,645	89.5	$80,041	98.7
25	Vermont	$81,100	$2,971	98.0	$79,758	98.4
26	Minnesota	$82,640	$4,131	98.6	$79,607	98.2
27	Kentucky	$74,520	$2,850	90.2	$79,493	98.0
28	Texas	$77,060	—	97.1	$79,397	97.9
29	Wisconsin	$77,580	$2,960	94.1	$79,303	97.8
30	Georgia	$79,440	$3,635	96.3	$78,723	97.1
31	Connecticut	$84,500	$3,073	103.6	$78,590	96.9
32	Montana	$77,120	$3,412	94.6	$77,879	96.0
33	Alaska	$79,040	—	102.4	$77,218	95.2
34	North Carolina	$75,260	$2,657	94.3	$76,971	94.9
35	South Carolina	$74,890	$3,036	93.7	$76,645	94.5
36	Arizona	$78,610	$1,490	100.7	$76,601	94.5
37	Pennsylvania	$75,960	$2,332	97.6	$75,460	93.1
38	Massachusetts	$82,930	$3,927	105.8	$74,703	92.1
39	Illinois	$77,860	$3,713	100.0	$74,178	91.5
40	Virginia	$77,950	$3,682	101.1	$73,457	90.6
41	South Dakota	$65,020	—	88.6	$73,398	90.5
42	Washington	$78,330	—	107.0	$73,197	90.3
43	Colorado	$76,810	$2,720	103.1	$71,896	88.7
44	New Jersey	$80,790	$2,956	108.8	$71,535	88.2
45	Oregon	$80,060	$6,201	103.4	$71,457	88.1
46	Wyoming	$65,050	—	92.7	$70,179	86.5
47	Mississippi	$62,590	$1,949	87.0	$69,740	86.0
48	Oklahoma	$61,720	$2,394	87.8	$67,536	83.3
49	Arkansas	$60,730	$2,160	86.9	$67,371	83.1
50	Florida	$69,050	—	103.4	$66,770	82.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $97,110 salary is worth about $106,434 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $2,428 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $94,682 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $109,622, a $3,189 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$109,622	88.6
2	Arkansas	$107,345	86.9
3	Louisiana	$106,791	88.2
4	Mississippi	$106,767	87.0
5	Iowa	$106,447	87.8
6	North Dakota	$106,434	89.0
7	Tennessee	$105,704	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$105,298	87.8
9	Wyoming	$104,767	92.7
10	Alabama	$103,863	88.8
11	Kentucky	$103,401	90.2
12	West Virginia	$103,276	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a psychology teachers, postsecondary?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a psychology teachers, postsecondary: a BLS median of $97,110 is worth $108,425 after the 2025 state income tax ($656) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 133.7 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a psychology teachers, postsecondary at $107,340, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #6 of 50 on real pay (index 113.0). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a psychology teachers, postsecondary salary go least far?: Florida ranks last of 50 states for a psychology teachers, postsecondary: a $69,050 BLS median is worth only $66,770 after tax and cost of living (index 82.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a psychology teachers, postsecondary is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.