Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In California, kindergarten teachers, except special educations earn $82,550 at the median. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $77,775 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 47.7% 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 $83K get you in California?
About kindergarten teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for kindergarten teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 47.3% 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 kindergarten teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in California
22 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $112K | +36% | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $106K | +28% | 740 |
| Modesto | $104K | +26% | 160 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $102K | +24% | 290 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $102K | +23% | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $97K | +17% | 60 |
| Yuba City | $97K | +17% | 60 |
| Merced | $96K | +17% | 140 |
| Visalia | $96K | +17% | 240 |
| Napa | $95K | +14% | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $93K | +13% | 130 |
| Vallejo | $92K | +11% | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $85K | +3% | 430 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $83K | +0% | 750 |
| Chico | $82K | -0% | 70 |
| Redding | $81K | -2% | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78K | -5% | 1,570 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $78K | -5% | 440 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $77K | -6% | 210 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $77K | -6% | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $75K | -10% | 640 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $72K | -13% | 470 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 47.3% 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 $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for kindergarten teachers, except special educations in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new kindergarten teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,193/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is kindergarten teachers, except special education a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $83K here vs. $63K 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 kindergarten teachers, except special educations?
California pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special educations make in California?
The median is $82,550 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,210, and experienced kindergarten teachers, except special educations can clear $124,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,220/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 47.3% 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 kindergarten 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education salary is worth about $77,775 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do kindergarten 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.