Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in California (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in California, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
California Median
$105,220
per year
Hourly Rate
$50.59
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $85,020
State Rank
#3 of 37
770 employed here

How much do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary make in California?

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in California take home a median of $105,220 annually — roughly $50.59 an hour — which runs 24% above the national median of $85,020.

Within California, entry-level pay starts around $67,020 while the top 10% make $191,720 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $88,110 and $148,610 a year.

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary range in California

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$67,020$32.22
25th percentile (early career)$88,110$42.36
50th percentile (median)$105,220$50.59
75th percentile (experienced)$148,610$71.45
90th percentile (top earners)$191,720$92.17

How California compares

California ranks 3rd out of 37 states and territories for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1New Hampshire$125,450
2Kansas$107,120
3California$105,220
4Rhode Island$104,460
5Maine$103,060

Working as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in California

Nationally, about 11,000 people work as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare California pay ($105,220) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary make in California?
The median Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in California is $105,220 per year, or about $50.59 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $67,020 at the entry level to $191,720 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary about 24% more than the national median of $85,020. California ranks 3rd out of 37 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $105,220 a year. About 770 Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.