Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in California
$102,780avg. a year
Annual salary · 12,100 employed
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in California earn an average of $102,780 a year. That is $25,520 (33%) more than the U.S. average of $77,260. The best-paying metro area is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $121,230.
$101,060Median pay
$102,780Average yearly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for special education teachers, secondary school by metro area. Swipe to see all 19.
11,220 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$121,230
a year
2400 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$110,740
a year
31,260 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$106,980
a year
41,630 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$105,440
a year
5290 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$104,450
a year
63,920 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$100,710
a year
7490 jobs
Fresno, CA
$100,150
a year
8220 jobs
Modesto, CA
$97,500
a year
9700 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$96,740
a year
10150 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$96,630
a year
11150 jobs
Salinas, CA
$96,220
a year
12120 jobs
Merced, CA
$96,010
a year
13110 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$94,950
a year
1470 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$94,940
a year
1590 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$93,810
a year
16230 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$92,820
a year
1790 jobs
El Centro, CA
$91,860
a year
1870 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$84,500
a year
19
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$77,070
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.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California special education teachers, secondary school work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $63k$63k–$67k$67k–$77k$77k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $77,260 | – |
| California | $102,780 | – |
| Oregon | $76,330 | – |
| Arizona | $71,690 | – |
| Nevada | $63,920 | – |
Related jobs in California
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$95,670
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$105,880
- 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
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$89,160
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do special education teachers, secondary school make in California?
The average is $102,780 a year, and the median is $101,060. That is $25,520 (33%) more than the U.S. average of $77,260.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ($121,230), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($110,740). The lowest average among 19 metro areas with data is Bakersfield-Delano, CA ($77,070).
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 25-2058. 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 special education teachers, secondary school 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.