SALARY · MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS, EXCEPT SPECIAL AND CAREER/TECHNICAL EDUCATION · CALIFORNIA

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in California

People ask me what a job pays, and my honest answer is always: it depends on the state. For middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in California, the middle of the field earned $98,950 a year. Use that as your anchor, then look at experience, employer size and city before you judge any single offer.

MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY

$98,950

Not published per hour at the median · That is $34,580 (53.7 percent) above the national median of $64,370 for this occupation.

$94,680Mean annual salary
Not publishedMean hourly wage
$37,300People employed in this job in California

Salary range

25th: $76,270Median: $98,95075th: $111,610
MeasureAnnual
25th percentile$76,270
Median (50th percentile)$98,950
75th percentile$111,610
Mean$94,680

The middle half of workers earned from $76,270 to $111,610 a year. Hourly pay matters if your hours vary. An annual figure can look strong while the hourly rate tells a different story, especially in jobs with seasonal hours or overtime. Check both before you compare two offers.

What stays in your pocket on the median salary

ESTIMATED TAKE-HOME PAY

$73,628 a year
$6,136 a month
Federal tax $12,939 · FICA $7,570 · State tax $4,813
Read this before you use the take-home figure. It is a single-filer estimate using the 2026 standard deduction. It leaves out credits, other deductions, local taxes, and retirement or health deductions. Your actual paycheck can differ, and for states without a verified 2026 table in this build, state tax is still to be added once its table is verified.

Same job, other states

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