SOC 25-1124 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — California
California · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in California is $99,860 per year, well above the national median of $79,350.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in California is $99,860 per year, well above the national median of $79,350. The gap of 25.8% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $45,580 at the tenth percentile to more than $208,410 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,680 to $166,400.
The area has 2,170 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 3rd by median wage. Riverside leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $171,660. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 210th of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,580 | −42.6% |
| 25th | $64,680 | −18.5% |
| Median (50th) | $99,860 | +25.8% |
| 75th | $166,400 | +109.7% |
| 90th | $208,410 | +162.6% |
| Mean | $116,230 | +46.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside | $171,660 | 130 | |
| 2 | Fresno | $167,160 | 70 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $125,980 | 130 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $115,040 | 240 | |
| 5 | San Diego | $106,050 | 200 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $103,190 | 50 | |
| 7 | San Jose | $96,550 | 190 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $83,310 | 800 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $99,860 buys what $90,208 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$90,208US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,860 a year, 25.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,580 to $208,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,170 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Riverside, at $171,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in California?
The median annual wage is $99,860, 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 $79,350, so pay in California is 25.8% 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 $208,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,580 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 Riverside, at $171,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,170 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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