Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in California
$88,160avg. a year
Annual salary · 7,430 employed
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in California earn an average of $88,160 a year. That is $18,790 (27%) more than the U.S. average of $69,370. The best-paying metro area is Modesto, CA at $107,550.
$82,550Median pay
$88,160Average yearly
+15%Avg. pay since 2020
#2Of 49 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for kindergarten teachers, except special education by metro area. Swipe to see all 22.
1160 jobs
Modesto, CA
$107,550
a year
250 jobs
El Centro, CA
$101,090
a year
3240 jobs
Visalia, CA
$99,130
a year
4140 jobs
Merced, CA
$98,880
a year
5290 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$98,850
a year
6740 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$97,930
a year
760 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$94,650
a year
8100 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$93,580
a year
9430 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$92,890
a year
10130 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$92,620
a year
1160 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$91,580
a year
1250 jobs
Napa, CA
$90,640
a year
13130 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$88,910
a year
141,570 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$87,400
a year
15750 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$85,810
a year
1670 jobs
Chico, CA
$84,880
a year
17440 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$83,620
a year
18640 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$82,090
a year
1960 jobs
Redding, CA
$80,430
a year
20210 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$80,060
a year
2160 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$79,490
a year
22470 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$71,670
a year
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California kindergarten teachers, except special education work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $58k$58k–$64k$64k–$71k$71k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $69,370 | – |
| California | $88,160 | – |
| Oregon | $72,090 | – |
| Nevada | $66,570 | – |
| Arizona | $57,550 | – |
Related jobs in California
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$95,670
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$105,880
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$94,680
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$51,190
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$93,510
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$102,780
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special education make in California?
The average is $88,160 a year, and the median is $82,550. That is $18,790 (27%) more than the U.S. average of $69,370.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Modesto, CA ($107,550), followed by El Centro, CA ($101,090). The lowest average among 22 metro areas with data is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ($71,670).
How does California rank?
California ranks #2 of 50 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 25-2012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national kindergarten teachers, except special education page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.