How much does a special education teacher make in California?
$103,100a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in California. That is $49.54 an hour or $8,588 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.54
- Vs. national median
- +35%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 42
- Jobs in the state
- 8,920
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $64,830Median: $103,100Highest 10%: $126,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,830 | $31.17 | |
| 25th | $82,090 | $39.47 | |
| Median | $103,100 | $49.54 | |
| 75th | $120,900 | $58.11 | |
| 90th | $126,200 | $60.68 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Salinas, CA | $112,900 |
| Vallejo, CA | $110,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $109,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $107,400 |
| Visalia, CA | $107,200 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $106,700 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $106,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,900 |
| Riverside, CA | $101,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,000 |
| Merced, CA | $96,560 |
| Fresno, CA | $95,120 |
| San Francisco, CA | $95,120 |
| Oxnard, CA | $94,880 |
| Sacramento, CA | $88,810 |
| San Jose, CA | $87,430 |
| Stockton, CA | $76,780 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $75,710 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for special education teachers.
| 1. California | $103,100 |
| 2. New Mexico | $86,520 |
| 3. Delaware | $85,040 |
| 4. Oregon | $82,240 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $49.54 ($103,100 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $103,100 against $76,580 nationally, 35% more.
Where does California rank for special education teacher pay?
California ranks 1 of 42 states.
Which city in California pays special education teachers the most?
Salinas, CA, with a median of $112,900 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.