How much does a secondary school teacher make in California?
$101,400a year
Median yearly pay for secondary school teachers in California. That is $48.74 an hour or $8,448 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.74
- Vs. national median
- +41%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 99,230
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $64,600Median: $101,400Highest 10%: $132,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,600 | $31.06 | |
| 25th | $79,710 | $38.32 | |
| Median | $101,400 | $48.74 | |
| 75th | $125,900 | $60.54 | |
| 90th | $132,600 | $63.75 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Oxnard, CA | $108,900 |
| San Jose, CA | $108,200 |
| Sacramento, CA | $105,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $102,900 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $102,800 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | $102,600 |
| Napa, CA | $102,500 |
| Hanford, CA | $102,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,900 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $101,700 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $100,600 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,200 |
| Riverside, CA | $100,100 |
| Merced, CA | $99,600 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $99,560 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,440 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $98,810 |
| Chico, CA | $98,210 |
| Visalia, CA | $97,610 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for secondary school teachers.
| 1. Washington | $102,700 |
| 2. California | $101,400 |
| 3. New York | $97,070 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| 5. Rhode Island | $92,610 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teacher make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $48.74 ($101,400 a year).
Do secondary school teachers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $101,400 against $72,040 nationally, 41% more.
Where does California rank for secondary school teacher pay?
California ranks 2 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays secondary school teachers the most?
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA, with a median of $108,900 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.