SOC 25-2051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Preschool — Bakersfield
Bakersfield-Delano, CA · 5 metro areas compared
At $62,080, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Bakersfield, CA tracks the national median of $64,830 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $62,080, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Bakersfield, CA tracks the national median of $64,830 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,080 and $92,800. The lowest tenth earn under $56,660, while the highest tenth earn more than $92,800.
San Diego leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $117,200. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 236th of 474 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $56,660 | −12.6% |
| 25th | $62,080 | −4.2% |
| Median (50th) | $62,080 | −4.2% |
| 75th | $92,800 | +43.1% |
| 90th | $92,800 | +43.1% |
| Mean | $71,470 | +10.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | $117,200 | 240 | |
| 2 | Fresno | $93,800 | 120 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $82,280 | — | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $75,140 | 50 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $72,390 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bakersfield run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $62,080 buys what $56,079 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,079US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,080 a year, 4.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $56,660 to $92,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Diego, at $117,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Bakersfield, CA?
The median annual wage is $62,080, 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 $64,830, so pay in Bakersfield, CA is 4.2% lower. 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 Bakersfield, CA earns more than $92,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $56,660 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 San Diego, at $117,200 per year.
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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