SOC 25-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $47,400 a year, ahead of the national median of $38,140 by 24.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $47,400 a year, ahead of the national median of $38,140 by 24.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $43,910 and $59,150. The lowest tenth earn under $37,870, while the highest tenth earn more than $65,350.
Employment stands at 55,700, or 3.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 6th by median wage. Visalia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $56,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 632nd of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,870 | −0.7% |
| 25th | $43,910 | +15.1% |
| Median (50th) | $47,400 | +24.3% |
| 75th | $59,150 | +55.1% |
| 90th | $65,350 | +71.3% |
| Mean | $51,190 | +34.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visalia | $56,930 | 430 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $53,810 | 10,280 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $51,190 | 3,570 | |
| 4 | Modesto | $49,500 | 640 | |
| 5 | Santa Maria | $48,130 | 630 | |
| 6 | Merced | $48,120 | 290 | |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | $47,780 | 420 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $47,280 | 600 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $46,960 | 450 | |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | $46,710 | 620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $47,400 buys what $42,818 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,818US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,400 a year, 24.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,870 to $65,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 55,700 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Visalia, at $56,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in California?
The median annual wage is $47,400, or $22.79 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 $38,140, so pay in California is 24.3% 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 $65,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,870 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 Visalia, at $56,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 55,700 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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