Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in California (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary in California, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
California Median
$99,410
per year
Hourly Rate
$47.79
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+26% vs US median
US median $78,620
State Rank
#2 of 49
9,820 employed here

How much do Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary make in California?

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary working in California earn a median salary of $99,410 per year, or about $47.79 per hour. That is 26% above the national median of $78,620 for this occupation.

Within California, entry-level pay starts around $60,420 while the top 10% make $202,740 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $74,960 and $143,070 a year.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary salary range in California

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$60,420$29.05
25th percentile (early career)$74,960$36.04
50th percentile (median)$99,410$47.79
75th percentile (experienced)$143,070$68.78
90th percentile (top earners)$202,740$97.47

How California compares

California ranks 2nd out of 49 states and territories for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Delaware$103,320
2California$99,410
3New York$98,850
4Vermont$97,980
5Rhode Island$97,580

Working as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary in California

Nationally, about 94,000 people work as Art, Drama, and Music 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 ($99,410) 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 Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary make in California?
The median Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary salary in California is $99,410 per year, or about $47.79 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $60,420 at the entry level to $202,740 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary about 26% more than the national median of $78,620. California ranks 2nd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $99,410 a year. About 9,820 Art, Drama, and Music 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 Art, Drama, and Music 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.