SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
In California the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School reaches $101,060 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In California the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School reaches $101,060 a year. That is 36.1% more than the national median of $74,260. Pay ranges from under $63,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $131,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $79,740 to $123,840.
The area has 12,100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.63 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. California ranks number 2nd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $117,640. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 204th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,390 | −14.6% |
| 25th | $79,740 | +7.4% |
| Median (50th) | $101,060 | +36.1% |
| 75th | $123,840 | +66.8% |
| 90th | $131,600 | +77.2% |
| Mean | $102,780 | +38.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $117,640 | 400 | |
| 2 | San Diego | $115,160 | 1,220 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $105,160 | 1,260 | |
| 4 | Oxnard | $104,090 | 290 | |
| 5 | Riverside | $103,730 | 1,630 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $101,060 | 70 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $100,900 | 3,920 | |
| 8 | Santa Rosa | $100,880 | 150 | |
| 9 | Salinas | $100,450 | 150 | |
| 10 | Vallejo | $99,930 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $101,060 buys what $91,292 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 22.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$101,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,292US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $101,060 a year, 36.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,390 to $131,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 12,100 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $117,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in California?
The median annual wage is $101,060, 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 $74,260, so pay in California is 36.1% 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 California earns more than $131,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,390 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 Jose, at $117,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 12,100 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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