Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary salary in California
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary in California earn a median of $76,630 a year ($36.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,680 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $63,820. California ranks 7th of 51 states for Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary pay. There are 0.61 Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $90,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| 25th percentile | $52,110 | $25.05 |
| Median | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| 75th percentile | $116,450 | $55.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,680 | $81.10 |
| Average (mean) | $90,340 | $43.43 |
Half of Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,385.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,192.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,947.31 |
| Weekly | $1,473.65 |
| Hourly | $36.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | $162,300 | 50 |
| El Centro, CA | $106,620 | 60 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $104,190 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $89,110 | 310 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $86,980 | 1,410 |
| Redding, CA | $82,660 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $76,960 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,670 | 780 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,660 | 1,400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $76,250 | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,450 | 3,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $74,230 | 990 |
| Fresno, CA | $72,140 | 280 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66,570 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $64,460 | 240 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,810 | 110 |
| Merced, CA | $57,720 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $57,470 | 190 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,060 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $82,620 |
| South Carolina | $79,610 |
| Massachusetts | $78,780 |
| Washington | $77,530 |
| Alaska | $77,310 |
| Minnesota | $76,920 |
| California | $76,630 |
| New York | $75,170 |
| Wyoming | $74,210 |
| North Dakota | $73,570 |
See Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $165,110 | — |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,410 | — |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,540 | — |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $81,960 | — |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,490 | — |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,470 | — |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,340 | — |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,680 | — |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,150 | — |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $135,000 | — |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $111,850 | — |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | $132,920 | — |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $137,280 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1194. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The median salary for Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary in California is $76,630 a year, or $36.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The top 10% of Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary in California earn at least $168,680 a year. The top 25% earn $116,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,800 a year, and a quarter of Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary earn $52,110 or less.
How many Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary work in California?
About 11,040 Career/Technical education teachers, postsecondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.