How much does a teacher and instructor make in California?
$87,460a year
Median yearly pay for teacher and instructors in California. That is $42.05 an hour or $7,288 a month.
- Hourly
- $42.05
- Vs. national median
- +32%
- Rank among states
- 6 of 50
- Jobs in the state
- 31,010
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $47,680Median: $87,460Highest 10%: $129,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,680 | $22.92 | |
| 25th | $62,510 | $30.05 | |
| Median | $87,460 | $42.05 | |
| 75th | $111,200 | $53.44 | |
| 90th | $129,100 | $62.08 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Salinas, CA | $113,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $105,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $103,900 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $101,100 |
| Stockton, CA | $99,820 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $97,680 |
| Riverside, CA | $97,070 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $96,820 |
| Chico, CA | $95,420 |
| Merced, CA | $93,400 |
| Hanford, CA | $86,710 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $85,640 |
| Napa, CA | $84,420 |
| Visalia, CA | $83,410 |
| Sacramento, CA | $81,720 |
| Yuba City, CA | $81,320 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,460 |
| San Francisco, CA | $79,250 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,820 |
| Vallejo, CA | $78,760 |
| San Jose, CA | $77,720 |
| Oxnard, CA | $77,230 |
| El Centro, CA | $77,110 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $76,640 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for teacher and instructors.
| 3. Kansas | $94,520 |
| 4. Maryland | $94,070 |
| 5. District of Columbia | $93,040 |
| 6. California | $87,460 |
| 7. Virginia | $85,280 |
| 8. Maine | $84,330 |
| 9. New York | $78,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teacher and instructor make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $42.05 ($87,460 a year).
Do teacher and instructors make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $87,460 against $66,140 nationally, 32% more.
Where does California rank for teacher and instructor pay?
California ranks 6 of 50 states.
Which city in California pays teacher and instructors the most?
Salinas, CA, with a median of $113,400 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.