SalaryExplorer

SOC 25-1124 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySacramento

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA · 7 metro areas compared

$125,980 /year
130jobs in area
+58.8%vs US median

The median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Sacramento, CA is $125,980 per year, well above the national median of $79,350.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $79,35010TH$48,17025TH$80,660MEDIAN$125,98075TH$166,40090TH$215,870

Salary overview

The median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Sacramento, CA is $125,980 per year, well above the national median of $79,350. The gap of 58.8% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $80,660 and $166,400. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,170 and the ninetieth at $215,870.

The area has 130 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Riverside records the highest median at $171,660. Of the 648 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 98th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$48,170−39.3%
25th$80,660+1.7%
Median (50th)$125,980+58.8%
75th$166,400+109.7%
90th$215,870+172.0%
Mean$125,830+58.6%

Other metro areas in California

Median annual wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Riverside$171,660130
2Fresno$167,16070
3San Francisco$115,040240
4San Diego$106,050200
5Santa Maria$103,19050
6San Jose$96,550190
7Los Angeles$83,310800

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Sacramento run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $125,980 buys what $113,803 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 43.4% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$125,980as reported by BLS

Local price level

110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$113,803US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $125,980 a year, 58.8% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $48,170 to $215,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 130 jobs in 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 Sacramento, CA?

The median annual wage is $125,980, 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 Sacramento, CA is 58.8% 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 Sacramento, CA earns more than $215,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $48,170 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 130 jobs in this occupation in Sacramento, CA. 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.

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Sacramento, CA Earn $125,980 — 58.8% Above Average (2025) | Salary Explorer