Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In California, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $99,650 at the median. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $93,885 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 39.5% 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 $100K get you in California?
About elementary school teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for elementary school teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 56% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 40.6% 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 elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $103K | +4% | 10,480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $103K | +3% | 7,810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $102K | +2% | 44,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $102K | +2% | 17,860 |
| Modesto | $102K | +2% | 2,450 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $101K | +1% | 2,170 |
| Vallejo | $101K | +1% | 1,680 |
| Napa | $100K | +1% | 570 |
| El Centro | $100K | +1% | 860 |
| Salinas | $100K | +1% | 2,280 |
| Merced | $100K | +0% | 1,560 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $99K | -0% | 3,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $99K | -0% | 1,000 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $99K | -1% | 2,180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $99K | -1% | 18,850 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $98K | -1% | 950 |
| Visalia | $98K | -1% | 2,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $98K | -2% | 1,140 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $97K | -2% | 3,380 |
| Yuba City | $97K | -3% | 920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $97K | -3% | 11,340 |
| Chico | $95K | -5% | 1,120 |
| Redding | $84K | -16% | 1,110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $80K | -20% | 4,540 |
| Fresno | $79K | -21% | 5,610 |
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 elementary school teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 40.6% 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 $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for elementary school teachers, except special educations in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elementary school teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,716/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is elementary school teachers, except special education a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 56% above the national median — $100K here vs. $64K 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 elementary school teachers, except special educations?
California pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +56%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in California?
The median is $99,650 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,940, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $127,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,090/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 40.6% 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 elementary school teachers, except special education 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 elementary school teachers, except special education salary is worth about $93,885 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do elementary school teachers, except special educations 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.