Secondary School Teachers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,600
- 25th Percentile — Junior$79,710
- 50th Percentile — Median$101,370
- 75th Percentile — Senior$125,920
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$132,600
Half of Secondary School Teachers in California earn more than $101,370. The top 10% make $132,600 or more, while entry-level workers start around $64,600.
Secondary School Teachers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Secondary School Teachers pay, at $105,880 per year (38.7% above the U.S. average of $76,320).
- 99,230 people work as Secondary School Teachers in California — 9.3% of all U.S. Secondary School Teachers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.80: Secondary School Teachers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,600; the top 10% earn over $132,600.
- Hourly equivalent: $50.9 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among education jobs in California, Chemistry Professors pays the most ($154,490).
Secondary School Teachers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Secondary School Teachers here earn $105,880 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $105,880 is roughly equivalent to $74,563 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($99,350), New York ($97,220), Massachusetts ($90,270) are the closest alternatives for Secondary School Teachers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Education Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chemistry Professors $154,490/yr California +45.9% vs this role
- Biological Science Professors $146,810/yr California +38.7% vs this role
- Mathematical Science Professors $141,340/yr California +33.5% vs this role
- Business Professors $140,670/yr California +32.9% vs this role
- Computer Science Professors $137,170/yr California +29.6% vs this role
- English Language Professors $134,950/yr California +27.5% vs this role
- Education Professors $113,870/yr California +7.5% vs this role
- Special Education Teachers $101,160/yr California 4.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Secondary School Teachers salary in California?
The average Secondary School Teachers salary in California is $105,880 per year (median $101,370), which is 38.7% above the national average of $76,320.
How does California rank for Secondary School Teachers pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($105,880/yr).
How much do entry-level Secondary School Teachers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Secondary School Teachers in California earn about $64,600 per year and the 25th percentile is $79,710.
How much do Secondary School Teachers make per hour in California?
About $50.9 per hour, based on the $105,880 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Secondary School Teachers work in California?
BLS counts 99,230 Secondary School Teachers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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