Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in California
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California earn a median of $98,950 a year, based on BLS data for 37,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,500 for the top 10%. That is 54% higher than the national median of $64,370. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.0 middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $94,680, close to the median.
Pay range for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,410 |
| 25th percentile | $76,270 |
| Median | $98,950 |
| 75th percentile | $111,610 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,500 |
| Average (mean) | $94,680 |
Half of middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical 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 | $8,245.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,122.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,805.77 |
| Weekly | $1,902.88 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical 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 $98,950 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $105,030 | 3,330 |
| Fresno, CA | $104,250 | 850 |
| El Centro, CA | $104,140 | 250 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $103,880 | 530 |
| Merced, CA | $101,770 | 180 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,250 | 740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,810 | 4,860 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $99,360 | 1,570 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,370 | 12,780 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $98,020 | 380 |
| Napa, CA | $95,590 | 130 |
| Vallejo, CA | $93,680 | 270 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $93,480 | n/a |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $92,040 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $90,870 | 310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $82,030 | 1,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $81,100 | 4,310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,100 | 220 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,740 | 770 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $79,490 | 200 |
| Chico, CA | $79,300 | 230 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,760 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,460 | 2,310 |
Highest-paying states for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,140 |
| California | $98,950 |
| New York | $94,840 |
| Connecticut | $93,610 |
| Rhode Island | $92,760 |
| Massachusetts | $89,450 |
| District of Columbia | $79,900 |
| Utah | $79,180 |
| Alaska | $78,940 |
| New Jersey | $78,770 |
See Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 |
| 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 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $80,620 | — |
| 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 25-2022. 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 middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in California?
The median salary for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California is $98,950 a year. Pay ranges from $62,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in California?
The top 10% of middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California earn at least $129,500 a year. The top 25% earn $111,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,410 a year, and a quarter of middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn $76,270 or less.
How many middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education work in California?
About 37,300 middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.