Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary Schools in California make a median of $80,620 a year. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $75,956 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 48.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in California?
About career/technical education teachers, secondary schools
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for career/technical education teachers, secondary school, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $66K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 48.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level career/technical education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by metro in California
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $126K | +56% | N/A |
| Fresno | $106K | +31% | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $102K | +26% | N/A |
| Modesto | $97K | +20% | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $96K | +19% | 110 |
| Merced | $94K | +16% | 40 |
| El Centro | $86K | +6% | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $82K | +2% | 810 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $80K | -1% | 280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $80K | -1% | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $80K | -1% | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $79K | -1% | 50 |
| Visalia | $78K | -3% | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $75K | -6% | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $75K | -7% | 650 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $70K | -13% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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Frequently asked questions
Can a career/technical education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 48.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for career/technical education teachers, secondary schools in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new career/technical education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,635/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is career/technical education teachers, secondary school a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $81K here vs. $66K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for career/technical education teachers, secondary schools?
California pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do career/technical education teachers, secondary schools make in California?
The median is $80,620 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,590, and experienced career/technical education teachers, secondary schools can clear $126,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,122/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 48.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary is worth about $75,956 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do career/technical education teachers, secondary schools get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.