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English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay in California

$134,950avg. a year
Annual salary · 5,460 employed

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in California earn an average of $134,950 a year. That is $45,370 (51%) more than the U.S. average of $89,580. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $167,930.

Pay by cityCompare states
$130,490Median pay
$134,950Average yearly
+9%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 48 states + D.C.

Top-paying California metro areas

Average pay for english language and literature teachers, postsecondary by metro area. Swipe to see all 9.

1610 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$167,930
a year
2480 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$161,950
a year
3200 jobs
Fresno, CA
$143,960
a year
4500 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$137,240
a year
550 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$134,280
a year
6290 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$130,880
a year
7370 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$126,870
a year
82,150 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$126,060
a year
9100 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$97,610
a year

Why people trust JobPayFacts

Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
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English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay in California, charted

Pay over time

California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian

Where California english language and literature teachers, postsecondary work

Employment by metro area, May 2025

Average pay by state

May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $72k$72k–$81k$81k–$93k$93k+California

California vs. neighbors

Average pay, May 2025
AreaAvg. payHourly
United States$89,580–
California$134,950–
Oregon$101,490–
Arizona$87,830–
Nevada$81,100–

Related jobs in California

All jobs in California

Average pay, California, May 2025

Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS

Questions and answers

How much do english language and literature teachers, postsecondary make in California?

The average is $134,950 a year, and the median is $130,490. That is $45,370 (51%) more than the U.S. average of $89,580.

Where in California do they earn the most?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($167,930), followed by Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,950). The lowest average among 9 metro areas with data is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($97,610).

How does California rank?

California ranks #1 of 49 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.

Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 25-1123. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national english language and literature teachers, postsecondary page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.