Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in California
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in California earn a median of $105,220 a year, based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,720 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $85,020. California ranks 3rd of 37 states for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $122,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,020 |
| 25th percentile | $88,110 |
| Median | $105,220 |
| 75th percentile | $148,610 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,720 |
| Average (mean) | $122,400 |
Half of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,768.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,384.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,046.92 |
| Weekly | $2,023.46 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $145,530 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,270 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,890 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,970 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $104,410 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $102,030 | 310 |
Highest-paying states for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $125,450 |
| Kansas | $107,120 |
| California | $105,220 |
| Rhode Island | $104,460 |
| Maine | $103,060 |
| New York | $101,800 |
| District of Columbia | $101,700 |
| Massachusetts | $100,470 |
| Connecticut | $99,900 |
| New Jersey | $97,500 |
See Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $165,110 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,410 | — |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,540 | — |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $81,960 | — |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,490 | — |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,470 | — |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,340 | — |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,680 | — |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,150 | — |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $135,000 | — |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $111,850 | — |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | $132,920 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1062. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The median salary for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in California is $105,220 a year. Pay ranges from $67,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The top 10% of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in California earn at least $191,720 a year. The top 25% earn $148,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,020 a year, and a quarter of area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary earn $88,110 or less.
How many area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary work in California?
About 770 area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.