How much does a kindergarten teacher make in California?
$82,550a year
Median yearly pay for kindergarten teachers in California. That is $39.69 an hour or $6,879 a month.
- Hourly
- $39.69
- Vs. national median
- +32%
- Rank among states
- 5 of 50
- Jobs in the state
- 7,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $53,210Median: $82,550Highest 10%: $124,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,210 | $25.58 | |
| 25th | $64,100 | $30.82 | |
| Median | $82,550 | $39.69 | |
| 75th | $107,300 | $51.61 | |
| 90th | $124,400 | $59.81 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| El Centro, CA | $111,900 |
| Sacramento, CA | $106,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $102,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $101,800 |
| Hanford, CA | $96,980 |
| Yuba City, CA | $96,570 |
| Merced, CA | $96,430 |
| Visalia, CA | $96,380 |
| Napa, CA | $94,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $92,910 |
| Vallejo, CA | $91,640 |
| San Jose, CA | $84,620 |
| Riverside, CA | $82,550 |
| Chico, CA | $82,170 |
| Redding, CA | $80,550 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $78,400 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $78,330 |
| Stockton, CA | $77,370 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $77,290 |
| San Francisco, CA | $74,600 |
| San Diego, CA | $71,690 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for kindergarten teachers.
| 2. Connecticut | $90,030 |
| 3. Rhode Island | $85,470 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $84,100 |
| 5. California | $82,550 |
| 6. District of Columbia | $81,500 |
| 7. New York | $77,630 |
| 8. Maryland | $75,910 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kindergarten teacher make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $39.69 ($82,550 a year).
Do kindergarten teachers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $82,550 against $62,680 nationally, 32% more.
Where does California rank for kindergarten teacher pay?
California ranks 5 of 50 states.
Which city in California pays kindergarten teachers the most?
El Centro, CA, with a median of $111,900 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.