Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary in California
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in California earn a median of $159,950 a year, based on BLS data for 31,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $103,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,380 for the top 10%. That is 51% higher than the national median of $105,870. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.7 education administrators, kindergarten through secondary per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $152,480, close to the median.
Pay range for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,250 |
| 25th percentile | $130,110 |
| Median | $159,950 |
| 75th percentile | $169,350 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,380 |
| Average (mean) | $152,480 |
Half of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary 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 | $13,329.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,664.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,151.92 |
| Weekly | $3,075.96 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because education administrators, kindergarten through secondary 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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Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $165,520 | 1,730 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,200 | 2,370 |
| Vallejo, CA | $163,150 | 290 |
| Visalia, CA | $163,130 | 520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,590 | 10,310 |
| Salinas, CA | $161,590 | 350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $161,380 | 3,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $160,820 | 3,480 |
| Modesto, CA | $160,240 | 460 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $159,950 | 140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $159,950 | 360 |
| Napa, CA | $159,660 | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $159,120 | 610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $157,750 | 1,860 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $157,630 | 230 |
| Yuba City, CA | $157,540 | 180 |
| Merced, CA | $157,180 | 260 |
| El Centro, CA | $156,750 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $155,780 | 360 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $155,770 | 700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $154,410 | 800 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $152,560 | 170 |
| Chico, CA | $139,600 | 170 |
| Fresno, CA | $134,720 | 1,190 |
| Redding, CA | $134,020 | 150 |
Highest-paying states for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $166,590 |
| California | $159,950 |
| Connecticut | $156,240 |
| New York | $138,830 |
| District of Columbia | $137,470 |
| New Jersey | $137,440 |
| Delaware | $132,710 |
| Maryland | $131,510 |
| Oregon | $130,050 |
| Utah | $128,880 |
See Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Construction Manager | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| Food Service Manager | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $210,280 | $101.10 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $210,230 | $101.07 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $99,650 | $47.91 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,550 | $38.25 |
| Lodging Manager | $76,950 | $37.00 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $77,840 | $37.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9032. 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 education administrators, kindergarten through secondary make in California?
The median salary for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in California is $159,950 a year. Pay ranges from $103,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid education administrators, kindergarten through secondary make in California?
The top 10% of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in California earn at least $202,380 a year. The top 25% earn $169,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $103,250 a year, and a quarter of education administrators, kindergarten through secondary earn $130,110 or less.
How many education administrators, kindergarten through secondary work in California?
About 31,370 education administrators, kindergarten through secondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.