SOC 25-2059 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, All Other — San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, All Other in San Luis Obispo, CA is $106,510 per year, well above the national median of $76,580.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, All Other in San Luis Obispo, CA is $106,510 per year, well above the national median of $76,580. The gap of 39.1% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $91,740 and $119,470. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $65,880 and the ninetieth at $122,600.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.76 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Salinas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $112,900. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 60th of 361 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,880 | −14.0% |
| 25th | $91,740 | +19.8% |
| Median (50th) | $106,510 | +39.1% |
| 75th | $119,470 | +56.0% |
| 90th | $122,600 | +60.1% |
| Mean | $104,080 | +35.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $112,900 | 200 | |
| 2 | Vallejo | $110,000 | 110 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $109,600 | 4,230 | |
| 4 | Santa Maria | $107,390 | 140 | |
| 5 | Visalia | $107,190 | 200 | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa | $106,650 | 100 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $102,870 | 410 | |
| 8 | Riverside | $101,850 | 580 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $101,030 | 90 | |
| 10 | Yuba City | $100,020 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Luis Obispo run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $106,510 buys what $96,215 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$106,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$96,215US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $106,510 a year, 39.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,880 to $122,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $112,900.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, All Other in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median annual wage is $106,510, 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 $76,580, so pay in San Luis Obispo, CA is 39.1% 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 San Luis Obispo, CA earns more than $122,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,880 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 Salinas, at $112,900 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in San Luis Obispo, 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.
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