SOC 25-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors — California
California · 8 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors reaches $102,030 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors reaches $102,030 a year. That is 65.8% more than the national median of $61,540. Pay ranges from under $55,930 at the tenth percentile to more than $131,510 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $68,750 to $125,090.
Employment stands at 1,660, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 1st out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Modesto records the highest median at $129,080. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 197th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,930 | −9.1% |
| 25th | $68,750 | +11.7% |
| Median (50th) | $102,030 | +65.8% |
| 75th | $125,090 | +103.3% |
| 90th | $131,510 | +113.7% |
| Mean | $97,890 | +59.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto | $129,080 | 70 | |
| 2 | Riverside | $119,590 | 140 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $107,420 | 170 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $105,820 | 320 | |
| 5 | Bakersfield | $102,920 | 40 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $98,860 | 600 | |
| 7 | San Jose | $96,280 | 40 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $79,810 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $102,030 buys what $92,168 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 49.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$102,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$92,168US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $102,030 a year, 65.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $55,930 to $131,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,660 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Modesto, at $129,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in California?
The median annual wage is $102,030, or $49.05 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $61,540, so pay in California is 65.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $131,510 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $55,930 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Modesto, at $129,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,660 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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