Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in California
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California earn a median of $101,370 a year, based on BLS data for 99,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,600 for the top 10%. That is 41% higher than the national median of $72,040. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 5.4 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $105,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,600 |
| 25th percentile | $79,710 |
| Median | $101,370 |
| 75th percentile | $125,920 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,600 |
| Average (mean) | $105,880 |
Half of secondary 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 | $8,447.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,223.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,898.85 |
| Weekly | $1,949.42 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because secondary 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.
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Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $108,850 | 2,210 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,230 | 4,130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $105,060 | 6,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,880 | 11,520 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $102,840 | 1,060 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $102,810 | 6,690 |
| Vallejo, CA | $102,590 | 800 |
| Napa, CA | $102,510 | 300 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $102,010 | 730 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,890 | 1,900 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,730 | 1,040 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,590 | 1,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,960 | 32,250 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,750 | 3,210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $100,590 | 1,920 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,170 | 670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,130 | 12,450 |
| Merced, CA | $99,600 | 1,020 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $99,560 | 410 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,440 | 780 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $99,150 | 3,300 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $98,810 | 560 |
| Chico, CA | $98,210 | 400 |
| Visalia, CA | $97,610 | 1,330 |
Highest-paying states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 |
| California | $101,370 |
| New York | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 |
| Illinois | $79,990 |
| Alaska | $79,650 |
See Secondary 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| 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 25-2031. 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 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in California?
The median salary for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California is $101,370 a year. Pay ranges from $64,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in California?
The top 10% of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California earn at least $132,600 a year. The top 25% earn $125,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,600 a year, and a quarter of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn $79,710 or less.
How many secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education work in California?
About 99,230 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.