How much does a special education teacher make in Santa Cruz?
$101,100a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $48.59 an hour or $8,422 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.59
- Vs. national median
- +36%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 314
- Jobs in the area
- 70
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $63,140Median: $101,100Highest 10%: $126,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,140 | $30.36 | |
| 25th | $78,290 | $37.64 | |
| Median | $101,100 | $48.59 | |
| 75th | $103,800 | $49.89 | |
| 90th | $126,100 | $60.62 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| San Jose, CA | $117,600 |
| San Diego, CA | $115,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $105,200 |
| Oxnard, CA | $104,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $103,700 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Teacher and Instructor | $101,100 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $99,260 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $99,230 |
| Secondary School Teacher | $98,810 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher | $80,100 |
| Middle School Teacher | $79,490 |
| Special Education Teacher | $75,710 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Worker | $70,570 |
| Substitute Teacher | $59,900 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,120 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $48.59 ($101,100 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $101,100 against $74,260 nationally, 36% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $101,100, so Santa Cruz pays 0% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for special education teacher pay?
11 of 314 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $63,140 or less a year; the top 10% make $126,100 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.