How much does a special education teacher make in San Diego?
$97,860a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $47.05 an hour or $8,155 a month.
- Hourly
- $47.05
- Vs. national median
- +50%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 335
- Jobs in the area
- 1,970
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $60,130Median: $97,860Highest 10%: $121,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,130 | $28.91 | |
| 25th | $76,730 | $36.89 | |
| Median | $97,860 | $47.05 | |
| 75th | $104,400 | $50.17 | |
| 90th | $121,100 | $58.24 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| San Francisco, CA | $105,300 |
| Oxnard, CA | $104,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,020 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $98,940 |
| San Jose, CA | $98,640 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,330 |
| Vallejo, CA | $98,260 |
| Merced, CA | $97,340 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $97,260 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 |
| Fresno, CA | $95,950 |
| Yuba City, CA | $94,260 |
| Napa, CA | $92,970 |
| Redding, CA | $92,820 |
| Riverside, CA | $91,840 |
| Chico, CA | $91,510 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $81,910 |
| Hanford, CA | $81,750 |
| Modesto, CA | $80,570 |
| Stockton, CA | $79,760 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $75,250 |
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 special education teacher make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $47.05 ($97,860 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $97,860 against $65,120 nationally, 50% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $97,170, so San Diego pays 1% more.
Where does San Diego rank for special education teacher pay?
10 of 335 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $60,130 or less a year; the top 10% make $121,100 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.