Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in California
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California earn a median $98,950 a year, +54% against the national median of $64,370; they and rank 2nd of 51 states by median. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn 70% more than the median across all occupations in California ($58,240). California pays more than every neighbouring state: Oregon, Nevada and Arizona range from $59,710 in Arizona to $78,350 in Oregon. California employs 37,300 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, 2.05 per 1,000 jobs, the 3rd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.51 means it is less common in California than nationally.
California vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 37,300 | 2.05 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $62,410 | $76,270 | $98,950 | $111,610 | $129,500 | $94,680 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 620,090 | – | – |
| Annual | $48,080 | $58,530 | $64,370 | $80,490 | $102,540 | $72,030 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 2nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 3rd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.51
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.05
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of California's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in California
23 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching California publish a row for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | * | $105,030 | $76,620 | $134,110 | 3,330 | 2.93 | 0.74 |
| Fresno, CA | * | $104,250 | $65,140 | $118,420 | 850 | 1.78 | 0.45 |
| El Centro, CA | * | $104,140 | $72,140 | $209,060 | 250 | 3.85 | 0.97 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | * | $103,880 | $62,270 | $123,570 | 530 | 1.64 | 0.41 |
| Merced, CA | * | $101,770 | $67,390 | $120,810 | 180 | 2.24 | 0.56 |
| Modesto, CA | * | $101,250 | $66,310 | $125,060 | 740 | 3.78 | 0.95 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | * | $100,810 | $67,970 | $130,220 | 4,860 | 2.83 | 0.71 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | * | $99,360 | $60,140 | $113,140 | 1,570 | 1.45 | 0.36 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | * | $98,370 | $62,610 | $124,720 | 12,780 | 2.04 | 0.51 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | * | $98,020 | $64,110 | $116,780 | 380 | 1.86 | 0.47 |
| Napa, CA | * | $95,590 | $61,170 | $157,630 | 130 | 1.69 | 0.42 |
| Vallejo, CA | * | $93,680 | $60,390 | $129,310 | 270 | 1.88 | 0.47 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | * | $93,480 | $64,600 | $114,150 | ** | ** | ** |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | * | $92,040 | $65,660 | $123,050 | 120 | 2.50 | 0.63 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | * | $90,870 | $61,140 | $123,110 | 310 | 2.54 | 0.64 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | * | $82,030 | $64,060 | $118,090 | 1,110 | 3.82 | 0.96 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | * | $81,100 | $56,890 | $139,030 | 4,310 | 1.81 | 0.45 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | * | $80,100 | $60,840 | $124,940 | 220 | 1.12 | 0.28 |
| Visalia, CA | * | $79,740 | $66,100 | $121,890 | 770 | 4.48 | 1.12 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | * | $79,490 | $60,770 | $126,470 | 200 | 2.07 | 0.52 |
| Chico, CA | * | $79,300 | $61,560 | $120,050 | 230 | 2.97 | 0.75 |
| Yuba City, CA | * | $78,760 | $59,600 | $123,070 | 170 | 3.42 | 0.86 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | * | $78,460 | $61,130 | $120,550 | 2,310 | 1.51 | 0.38 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | * | $94,170 | $60,700 | $127,280 | 120 | 1.97 | 0.49 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | * | $93,130 | $60,320 | $127,010 | 220 | 1.98 | 0.50 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | * | $77,190 | $60,830 | $124,910 | 340 | 3.24 | 0.81 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (every state ranked) and the California wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS California estimates.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.