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

Secondary 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in California, the middle of the field earned $101,370 a year. Use that as your anchor, then look at experience, employer size and city before you judge any single offer.

MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY

$101,370

Not published per hour at the median · That is $29,330 (40.7 percent) above the national median of $72,040 for this occupation.

$105,880Mean annual salary
Not publishedMean hourly wage
$99,230People employed in this job in California

Salary range

25th: $79,710Median: $101,37075th: $125,920
MeasureAnnual
25th percentile$79,710
Median (50th percentile)$101,370
75th percentile$125,920
Mean$105,880

The middle half of workers earned from $79,710 to $125,920 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

$75,106 a year
$6,259 a month
Federal tax $13,471 · FICA $7,755 · State tax $5,038
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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