SOC 25-2051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Preschool — San Francisco
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in San Francisco, CA is $82,280 per year, well above the national median of $64,830.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in San Francisco, CA is $82,280 per year, well above the national median of $64,830. The gap of 26.9% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $67,720 and $100,760. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $58,620 and the ninetieth at $141,560.
Within the state, San Diego records the highest median at $117,200. Of the 688 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 346th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,620 | −9.6% |
| 25th | $67,720 | +4.5% |
| Median (50th) | $82,280 | +26.9% |
| 75th | $100,760 | +55.4% |
| 90th | $141,560 | +118.4% |
| Mean | $90,870 | +40.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | $117,200 | 240 | |
| 2 | Fresno | $93,800 | 120 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $75,140 | 50 | |
| 4 | Sacramento | $72,390 | — | |
| 5 | Bakersfield | $62,080 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Francisco run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $82,280 buys what $74,327 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$74,327US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,280 a year, 26.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,620 to $141,560 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 San Francisco, CA?
The median annual wage is $82,280, 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 San Francisco, CA is 26.9% 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 Francisco, CA earns more than $141,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,620 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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