How much does a special education teacher make in San Diego?
$115,200a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $55.37 an hour or $9,597 a month.
- Hourly
- $55.37
- Vs. national median
- +55%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 314
- Jobs in the area
- 1,220
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $78,240Median: $115,200Highest 10%: $211,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,240 | $37.62 | |
| 25th | $82,000 | $39.42 | |
| Median | $115,200 | $55.37 | |
| 75th | $131,900 | $63.41 | |
| 90th | $211,500 | $101.70 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| San Jose, CA | $117,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $105,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $104,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $103,700 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $101,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,900 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $100,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,500 |
| Vallejo, CA | $99,930 |
| Sacramento, CA | $99,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,860 |
| Modesto, CA | $98,170 |
| Merced, CA | $98,040 |
| Stockton, CA | $97,310 |
| El Centro, CA | $97,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $96,260 |
| Hanford, CA | $76,610 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $74,690 |
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 $55.37 ($115,200 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $115,200 against $74,260 nationally, 55% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $101,100, so San Diego pays 14% more.
Where does San Diego rank for special education teacher pay?
2 of 314 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $211,500 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.