Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay in California
$93,510avg. a year
Annual salary · 23,280 employed
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in California earn an average of $93,510 a year. That is $20,860 (29%) more than the U.S. average of $72,650. The best-paying metro area is El Centro, CA at $110,170.
$97,170Median pay
$93,510Average yearly
+20%Avg. pay since 2020
#3Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school by metro area. Swipe to see all 22.
1180 jobs
El Centro, CA
$110,170
a year
2790 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$102,260
a year
3490 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$101,530
a year
43,440 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$100,660
a year
5300 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$99,170
a year
6700 jobs
Fresno, CA
$95,540
a year
7210 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$95,460
a year
86,410 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$93,880
a year
9160 jobs
Merced, CA
$91,780
a year
101,970 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$91,530
a year
1160 jobs
Napa, CA
$91,010
a year
123,140 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$90,900
a year
13130 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$90,510
a year
141,700 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$90,030
a year
15250 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$89,540
a year
16130 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$89,460
a year
17150 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$88,100
a year
18270 jobs
Modesto, CA
$88,070
a year
19160 jobs
Chico, CA
$87,290
a year
20400 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$86,550
a year
21170 jobs
Redding, CA
$86,500
a year
22800 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$77,980
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.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $60k$60k–$66k$66k–$75k$75k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $72,650 | – |
| California | $93,510 | – |
| Oregon | $78,310 | – |
| Nevada | $67,760 | – |
| Arizona | $57,470 | – |
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, Secondary School$102,780
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$89,160
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in California?
The average is $93,510 a year, and the median is $97,170. That is $20,860 (29%) more than the U.S. average of $72,650.
Where in California do they earn the most?
El Centro, CA ($110,170), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,260). The lowest average among 22 metro areas with data is Bakersfield-Delano, CA ($77,980).
How does California rank?
California ranks #3 of 51 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 25-2052. 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school 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.