How much does a special education teacher make in San Diego?
$79,310a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $38.13 an hour or $6,609 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.13
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 47 of 242
- Jobs in the area
- 260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,160Median: $79,310Highest 10%: $120,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,160 | $29.88 | |
| 25th | $62,960 | $30.27 | |
| Median | $79,310 | $38.13 | |
| 75th | $104,900 | $50.41 | |
| 90th | $120,600 | $57.96 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| San Jose, CA | $121,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $110,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $104,500 |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,600 |
| Riverside, CA | $99,190 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $97,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $96,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $82,290 |
| Stockton, CA | $78,290 |
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 $38.13 ($79,310 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $79,310 against $66,810 nationally, 19% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $101,500, so San Diego pays 22% less.
Where does San Diego rank for special education teacher pay?
47 of 242 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $120,600 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.