Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in California is $101,370/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $95,506 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 39.6% 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 $101K get you in California?
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, local pay runs about 41% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 40% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in California
24 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $109K | +7% | 2,210 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $108K | +7% | 4,130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $105K | +4% | 6,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $103K | +1% | 11,520 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $103K | +1% | 1,060 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $103K | +1% | 6,690 |
| Vallejo | $103K | +1% | 800 |
| Napa | $103K | +1% | 300 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $102K | +1% | 730 |
| Modesto | $102K | +1% | 1,900 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $102K | +0% | 1,040 |
| Salinas | $102K | +0% | 1,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $101K | -0% | 32,250 |
| Fresno | $101K | -1% | 3,210 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $101K | -1% | 1,920 |
| Yuba City | $100K | -1% | 670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $100K | -1% | 12,450 |
| Merced | $100K | -2% | 1,020 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $100K | -2% | 410 |
| El Centro | $99K | -2% | 780 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $99K | -2% | 3,300 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $99K | -3% | 560 |
| Chico | $98K | -3% | 400 |
| Visalia | $98K | -4% | 1,330 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 metros
Compare to other states
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 40% 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 $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,876/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 41% above the national median — $101K here vs. $72K 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
California pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in California?
The median is $101,370 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,600, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $132,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,178/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 40% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $95,506 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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.