California Median
$98,950
per year
Hourly Rate
$47.57
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+54% vs US median
US median $64,370
State Rank
#2 of 51
37,300 employed here
How much do Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make in California?
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education working in California earn a median salary of $98,950 per year, or about $47.57 per hour. That is 54% above the national median of $64,370 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $62,410 while the top 10% make $129,500 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $76,270 and $111,610 a year.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,410 | $30.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $76,270 | $36.67 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $98,950 | $47.57 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $111,610 | $53.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,500 | $62.26 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other states
Washington $102,140New York $94,840Connecticut $93,610Rhode Island $92,760Massachusetts $89,450District of Columbia $79,900Utah $79,180Alaska $78,940New Jersey $78,770Maryland $78,510Oregon $78,350Pennsylvania $77,930Ohio $77,090Illinois $76,110New Mexico $75,240Vermont $73,940New Hampshire $71,140Hawaii $69,230Delaware $67,780Nevada $66,300Georgia $64,780Michigan $63,790Colorado $63,760Maine $63,590Virginia $63,520Texas $63,390Minnesota $62,640Nebraska $62,510Wyoming $62,480Wisconsin $61,960Alabama $61,770Montana $61,550Kentucky $61,120Idaho $60,930South Carolina $60,810Indiana $60,700Tennessee $60,690Kansas $60,580Iowa $60,450North Dakota $60,100Arizona $59,710Arkansas $59,570Missouri $59,310Florida $58,940Louisiana $58,760West Virginia $57,210North Carolina $52,010South Dakota $50,980Mississippi $50,790Oklahoma $48,440
Working as Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California
Nationally, about 620,000 people work as Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($98,950) 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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make in California?
The median Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in California is $98,950 per year, or about $47.57 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $62,410 at the entry level to $129,500 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education about 54% more than the national median of $64,370. California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $98,950 a year. About 37,300 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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.