Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $172,510 a year — 72% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $115,120 take-home, or $9,593 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physics teachers, postsecondary salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,136
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,696
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,501
- California income tax$11,814
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,243
- Take-home pay$115,120
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,850 | $38.87 | $61,367 | $5,114 |
| 25th percentile | $121,860 | $58.59 | $85,870 | $7,156 |
| Median (50th) | $172,510 | $82.94 | $115,120 | $9,593 |
| 75th percentile | $228,850 | $110.02 | $149,269 | $12,439 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $282,760+ | $135.94 | $178,633 | $14,886 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $172,510 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physics teachers, postsecondary's $115,120 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,368 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for physics teachers, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $172,510 | $115,120 | $101,368 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $128,640 | $92,979 | $85,881 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $104,690 | $77,343 | $68,711 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physics teachers, postsecondary make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median physics teachers, postsecondary salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $172,510 a year, or about $82.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $121,860 and $228,850.
What is a physics teachers, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $172,510 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $115,120 a year ($9,593 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,056 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a physics teachers, postsecondary?
Pay here is 72% above the national median of $100,310. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,368 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physics teachers, postsecondary afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median physics teachers, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary — $175,120
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary — $141,370
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary — $137,760
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $134,590
- Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other — $132,920
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary — $131,070
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary — $130,160
- History Teachers, Postsecondary — $129,120
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — $128,810
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $128,470
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary — $127,800
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary — $114,330