SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Riverside
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $103,730 a year, the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Riverside, CA sits 39.7% above the national figure of $74,260.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $103,730 a year, the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Riverside, CA sits 39.7% above the national figure of $74,260. Half of workers earn between $89,990 and $127,040. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $69,020 and the ninetieth at $131,640.
The area has 1,630 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.90 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $117,640. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 126th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $69,020 | −7.1% |
| 25th | $89,990 | +21.2% |
| Median (50th) | $103,730 | +39.7% |
| 75th | $127,040 | +71.1% |
| 90th | $131,640 | +77.3% |
| Mean | $105,440 | +42.0% |
Other 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 | Santa Cruz | $101,060 | 70 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $100,900 | 3,920 | |
| 7 | Santa Rosa | $100,880 | 150 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $100,450 | 150 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $99,930 | 110 | |
| 10 | Sacramento | $99,900 | 700 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Riverside run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $103,730 buys what $93,704 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 26.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$103,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$93,704US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $103,730 a year, 39.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $69,020 to $131,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,630 jobs in 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 Riverside, CA?
The median annual wage is $103,730, 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 Riverside, CA is 39.7% 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 Riverside, CA earns more than $131,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $69,020 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 1,630 jobs in this occupation in Riverside, 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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