Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in California
$105,880avg. a year
Annual salary · 99,230 employed
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California earn an average of $105,880 a year. That is $29,560 (39%) more than the U.S. average of $76,320. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $119,470.
$101,370Median pay
$105,880Average yearly
+22%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education by metro area. Swipe to see all 24.
111,520 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$119,470
a year
26,690 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$116,110
a year
34,130 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$111,240
a year
4300 jobs
Napa, CA
$107,690
a year
532,250 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$106,820
a year
62,210 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$106,480
a year
71,900 jobs
Modesto, CA
$103,950
a year
81,040 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$103,360
a year
93,210 jobs
Fresno, CA
$103,120
a year
106,040 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$101,820
a year
111,060 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$101,500
a year
12800 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$100,500
a year
13730 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$100,480
a year
141,020 jobs
Merced, CA
$100,380
a year
1512,450 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$99,640
a year
161,200 jobs
Salinas, CA
$99,410
a year
17400 jobs
Chico, CA
$98,330
a year
181,920 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$97,040
a year
19780 jobs
El Centro, CA
$96,750
a year
201,330 jobs
Visalia, CA
$96,750
a year
21670 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$96,450
a year
22410 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$95,490
a year
233,300 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$94,540
a year
24560 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$94,180
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.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $62k$62k–$69k$69k–$79k$79k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $76,320 | – |
| California | $105,880 | – |
| Oregon | $79,050 | – |
| Nevada | $68,570 | – |
| Arizona | $64,440 | – |
Related jobs in California
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$95,670
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$94,680
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$51,190
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$93,510
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$102,780
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$89,160
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in California?
The average is $105,880 a year, and the median is $101,370. That is $29,560 (39%) more than the U.S. average of $76,320.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($119,470), followed by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ($116,110). The lowest average among 24 metro areas with data is Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($94,180).
How does California rank?
California ranks #1 of 51 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 25-2031. 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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.