Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in California
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in California earn a median of $80,620 a year, based on BLS data for 3,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,170 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $66,270. California ranks 6th of 49 states for Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school pay. There are 0.18 Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.25). The average (mean) salary is $89,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,590 |
| 25th percentile | $64,330 |
| Median | $80,620 |
| 75th percentile | $102,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,170 |
| Average (mean) | $89,160 |
Half of Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school 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 | $6,718.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,359.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,100.77 |
| Weekly | $1,550.38 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $126,160 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $105,570 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,800 | n/a |
| Modesto, CA | $96,940 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $96,250 | 110 |
| Merced, CA | $93,780 | 40 |
| El Centro, CA | $85,680 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,950 | 810 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,210 | 280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $80,100 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $80,060 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,470 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $77,920 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,460 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,030 | 650 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $70,250 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $101,180 |
| Connecticut | $100,810 |
| Massachusetts | $98,020 |
| New Jersey | $83,770 |
| Rhode Island | $81,820 |
| California | $80,620 |
| New York | $79,820 |
| Delaware | $79,230 |
| Ohio | $79,230 |
| Vermont | $79,220 |
See Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,650 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,950 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $97,170 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $101,060 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $103,050 | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,550 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $101,530 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $59,550 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,490 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Tutor | $45,100 | $21.69 |
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 25-2032. 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 Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school make in California?
The median salary for Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school in California is $80,620 a year. Pay ranges from $60,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $126,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school make in California?
The top 10% of Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school in California earn at least $126,170 a year. The top 25% earn $102,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,590 a year, and a quarter of Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school earn $64,330 or less.
How many Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school work in California?
About 3,260 Career/Technical education teachers, secondary school are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.