Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in California
Education Administrators, Postsecondary in California earn a median of $125,460 a year ($60.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $216,480 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $104,590. California ranks 8th of 51 states for education administrators, postsecondary pay. There are 0.82 education administrators, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $140,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for education administrators, postsecondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,700 | $36.88 |
| 25th percentile | $94,440 | $45.40 |
| Median | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| 75th percentile | $169,550 | $81.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $216,480 | $104.08 |
| Average (mean) | $140,980 | $67.78 |
Half of education administrators, 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 | $10,455 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,227.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,825.38 |
| Weekly | $2,412.69 |
| Hourly | $60.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $172,410 | 50 |
| Merced, CA | $165,620 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $156,010 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $154,140 | 1,450 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $153,950 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,030 | 1,720 |
| Vallejo, CA | $132,500 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,270 | 640 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,620 | 860 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $125,470 | 1,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,230 | 6,050 |
| Modesto, CA | $123,830 | 150 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $123,260 | 260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,160 | 170 |
| Chico, CA | $118,710 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $118,130 | 360 |
| Redding, CA | $102,420 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $99,990 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for education administrators, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $139,640 |
| New Jersey | $131,570 |
| Massachusetts | $128,970 |
| Delaware | $128,570 |
| Wyoming | $127,960 |
| Washington | $127,630 |
| South Dakota | $126,160 |
| California | $125,460 |
| Wisconsin | $124,960 |
| Connecticut | $123,190 |
See Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Construction Manager | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| Food Service Manager | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $159,950 | — |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $210,280 | $101.10 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $210,230 | $101.07 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $99,650 | $47.91 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,550 | $38.25 |
| Lodging Manager | $76,950 | $37.00 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $77,840 | $37.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9033. 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 education administrators, postsecondary make in California?
The median salary for education administrators, postsecondary in California is $125,460 a year, or $60.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $216,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid education administrators, postsecondary make in California?
The top 10% of education administrators, postsecondary in California earn at least $216,480 a year. The top 25% earn $169,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for education administrators, postsecondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,700 a year, and a quarter of education administrators, postsecondary earn $94,440 or less.
How many education administrators, postsecondary work in California?
About 14,870 education administrators, postsecondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.