California Median
$101,370
per year
Hourly Rate
$48.74
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+41% vs US median
US median $72,040
State Rank
#2 of 51
99,230 employed here
How much do Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make in California?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education working in California earn a median salary of $101,370 per year, or about $48.74 per hour. That is 41% above the national median of $72,040 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $64,600 while the top 10% make $132,600 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $79,710 and $125,920 a year.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,600 | $31.06 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $79,710 | $38.32 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $101,370 | $48.74 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $125,920 | $60.54 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,600 | $63.75 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other states
Washington $102,670New York $97,070Massachusetts $95,260Rhode Island $92,610District of Columbia $82,750New Jersey $82,200Connecticut $80,970Illinois $79,990Alaska $79,650Oregon $79,570Ohio $78,800Pennsylvania $78,800Maryland $78,670Delaware $77,960New Hampshire $77,060Minnesota $76,460Utah $76,330Vermont $76,220New Mexico $75,900Georgia $75,480Hawaii $74,310Colorado $72,900Virginia $72,170Michigan $66,030Nevada $65,520Maine $64,880Texas $63,590Nebraska $63,450Wisconsin $62,870Wyoming $62,690South Carolina $62,580Alabama $61,990Indiana $61,880Tennessee $61,860Idaho $61,690Kentucky $61,560North Dakota $61,210Iowa $61,200Montana $60,990Florida $60,410Kansas $59,920Louisiana $59,850Arkansas $59,660Missouri $59,240Arizona $58,360North Carolina $57,650West Virginia $56,610South Dakota $51,050Mississippi $50,980Oklahoma $48,710
Working as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California
Nationally, about 1,065,000 people work as Secondary 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 ($101,370) 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make in California?
The median Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in California is $101,370 per year, or about $48.74 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $64,600 at the entry level to $132,600 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education about 41% more than the national median of $72,040. California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $101,370 a year. About 99,230 Secondary 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 Secondary 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.