How much does a preschool teacher make in San Diego?
$44,940a year
Median yearly pay for preschool teachers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $21.61 an hour or $3,745 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.61
- Vs. national median
- +18%
- Rank among cities
- 57 of 383
- Jobs in the area
- 5,130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,140Median: $44,940Highest 10%: $60,420
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,140 | $18.34 | |
| 25th | $38,970 | $18.74 | |
| Median | $44,940 | $21.61 | |
| 75th | $49,120 | $23.62 | |
| 90th | $60,420 | $29.05 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for preschool teachers.
| Visalia, CA | $56,930 |
| San Francisco, CA | $53,810 |
| San Jose, CA | $51,190 |
| Modesto, CA | $49,500 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $48,130 |
| Merced, CA | $48,120 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $47,780 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,280 |
| Vallejo, CA | $46,960 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,710 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $46,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $46,470 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $46,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $46,120 |
| Riverside, CA | $46,010 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $45,880 |
| Napa, CA | $45,660 |
| Yuba City, CA | $45,240 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,040 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,740 |
| Redding, CA | $44,580 |
| El Centro, CA | $44,370 |
| Sacramento, CA | $44,250 |
| Chico, CA | $44,080 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher | $168,400 |
| Biological Science Teacher | $166,900 |
| Computer Science Teacher | $166,600 |
| Physics Teacher | $152,200 |
| Sociology Teacher | $142,000 |
| Economics Teacher | $140,700 |
| Chemistry Teacher | $138,300 |
| Mathematical Science Teacher | $135,900 |
| History Teacher | $135,400 |
| Communications Teacher | $134,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teacher make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $21.61 ($44,940 a year).
Do preschool teachers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $44,940 against $38,140 nationally, 18% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $47,400, so San Diego pays 5% less.
Where does San Diego rank for preschool teacher pay?
57 of 383 metro areas with data.
How much does a preschool teacher make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,140 or less a year; the top 10% make $60,420 or more.
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.