How much does a special education teacher make in California?
$101,500a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in California. That is $48.81 an hour or $8,461 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.81
- Vs. national median
- +52%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 4,860
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $68,110Median: $101,500Highest 10%: $127,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,110 | $32.75 | |
| 25th | $80,550 | $38.73 | |
| Median | $101,500 | $48.81 | |
| 75th | $120,600 | $57.96 | |
| 90th | $127,700 | $61.40 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $121,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $110,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $104,500 |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,600 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,800 |
| Riverside, CA | $99,190 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $97,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $96,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $82,290 |
| San Diego, CA | $79,310 |
| Stockton, CA | $78,290 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $73,630 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for special education teachers.
| 1. California | $101,500 |
| 2. Washington | $99,520 |
| 3. Rhode Island | $93,970 |
| 4. New York | $93,820 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $48.81 ($101,500 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $101,500 against $66,810 nationally, 52% more.
Where does California rank for special education teacher pay?
California ranks 1 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays special education teachers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $121,100 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.