Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary Salary
In California, education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries earn $159,950 at the median. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $150,697 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $160K get you in California?
About education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, local pay runs about 51% higher than the U.S. median of $106K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $166K | +3% | 1,730 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $163K | +2% | 2,370 |
| Vallejo | $163K | +2% | 290 |
| Visalia | $163K | +2% | 520 |
| Salinas | $162K | +1% | 350 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $162K | +1% | 10,310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $161K | +1% | 3,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $161K | +1% | 3,480 |
| Modesto | $160K | +0% | 460 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $160K | +0% | 140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $160K | +0% | 360 |
| Napa | $160K | -0% | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $159K | -1% | 610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $158K | -1% | 1,860 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $158K | -1% | 230 |
| Yuba City | $158K | -2% | 180 |
| Merced | $157K | -2% | 260 |
| El Centro | $157K | -2% | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $156K | -3% | 360 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $156K | -3% | 700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $154K | -3% | 800 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $153K | -5% | 170 |
| Chico | $140K | -13% | 170 |
| Fresno | $135K | -16% | 1,190 |
| Redding | $134K | -16% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,195/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is education administrators, kindergarten through secondary a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 51% above the national median — $160K here vs. $106K 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 education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries?
California pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s +51%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $151K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries make in California?
The median is $159,950 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $103,250, and experienced education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries can clear $202,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,089/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 27.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary 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 education administrators, kindergarten through secondary salary is worth about $150,697 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education administrators, kindergarten through secondaries 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.