Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $102,450 a year, based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,550 for the top 10%. That is 63% higher than the national median of $62,680. Pay here is 24% higher than the California statewide median of $82,550. There are 1.5 kindergarten teachers, except special education per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $98,850, close to the median.
Pay range for kindergarten teachers, except special education in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,800 |
| 25th percentile | $79,680 |
| Median | $102,450 |
| 75th percentile | $121,390 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,550 |
| Average (mean) | $98,850 |
Half of kindergarten teachers, except special education 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 | $8,537.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,268.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,940.38 |
| Weekly | $1,970.19 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because kindergarten teachers, except special education 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 $102,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $111,880 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,000 | 740 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,790 | 160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $101,780 | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $96,980 | 60 |
| Yuba City, CA | $96,570 | 60 |
| Merced, CA | $96,430 | 140 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,380 | 240 |
| Napa, CA | $94,500 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,910 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $91,640 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,620 | 430 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,550 | 750 |
| Chico, CA | $82,170 | 70 |
| Redding, CA | $80,550 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,400 | 1,570 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,330 | 440 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,370 | 210 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $77,290 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,600 | 640 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $71,690 | 470 |
Highest-paying states for kindergarten teachers, except special education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $99,960 |
| Connecticut | $90,030 |
| Rhode Island | $85,470 |
| Massachusetts | $84,100 |
| California | $82,550 |
| District of Columbia | $81,500 |
| New York | $77,630 |
| Maryland | $75,910 |
| Minnesota | $75,500 |
| New Mexico | $74,380 |
See Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $102,840 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $98,940 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $80,100 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $107,390 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $126,160 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,540 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $71,200 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $50,310 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $95,790 | $46.05 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2012. 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for kindergarten teachers, except special education in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $102,450 a year. Pay ranges from $64,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid kindergarten teachers, except special education make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of kindergarten teachers, except special education in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $123,550 a year. The top 25% earn $121,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for kindergarten teachers, except special education in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,800 a year, and a quarter of kindergarten teachers, except special education earn $79,680 or less.
How many kindergarten teachers, except special education work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 290 kindergarten teachers, except special education are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.