SOC 25-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in California is $82,550 per year, well above the national median of $62,680.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in California is $82,550 per year, well above the national median of $62,680. The gap of 31.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $64,100 and $107,340. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $53,210 and the ninetieth at $124,400.
The area has 7,430 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. California ranks number 5th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, El Centro records the highest median at $111,880. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 291st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,210 | −15.1% |
| 25th | $64,100 | +2.3% |
| Median (50th) | $82,550 | +31.7% |
| 75th | $107,340 | +71.3% |
| 90th | $124,400 | +98.5% |
| Mean | $88,160 | +40.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Centro | $111,880 | 50 | |
| 2 | Sacramento | $106,000 | 740 | |
| 3 | Modesto | $103,790 | 160 | |
| 4 | Santa Maria | $102,450 | 290 | |
| 5 | Oxnard | $101,780 | 130 | |
| 6 | Hanford | $96,980 | 60 | |
| 7 | Yuba City | $96,570 | 60 | |
| 8 | Merced | $96,430 | 140 | |
| 9 | Visalia | $96,380 | 240 | |
| 10 | Napa | $94,500 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $82,550 buys what $74,571 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$74,571US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,550 a year, 31.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,210 to $124,400 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,430 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is El Centro, at $111,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in California?
The median annual wage is $82,550, 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 $62,680, so pay in California is 31.7% 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 $124,400 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,210 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 El Centro, at $111,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,430 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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