Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in California
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in California earn a median of $99,650 a year, based on BLS data for 155,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,070 for the top 10%. That is 56% higher than the national median of $63,970. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for elementary school teachers, except special education pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 8.5 elementary school teachers, except special education per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $95,670, close to the median.
Pay range for elementary school teachers, except special education in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,940 |
| 25th percentile | $77,140 |
| Median | $99,650 |
| 75th percentile | $119,970 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,070 |
| Average (mean) | $95,670 |
Half of elementary school teachers, except special education 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 | $8,304.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,152.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,832.69 |
| Weekly | $1,916.35 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because elementary school teachers, except special education are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $103,390 | 10,480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $102,860 | 7,810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,860 | 44,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,860 | 17,860 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,640 | 2,450 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $101,030 | 2,170 |
| Vallejo, CA | $100,790 | 1,680 |
| Napa, CA | $100,410 | 570 |
| El Centro, CA | $100,390 | 860 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,220 | 2,280 |
| Merced, CA | $100,120 | 1,560 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $99,420 | 3,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $99,260 | 1,000 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,060 | 2,180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,520 | 18,850 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $98,470 | 950 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,430 | 2,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $97,620 | 1,140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $97,400 | 3,380 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $97,000 | 11,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $97,000 | 920 |
| Chico, CA | $95,000 | 1,120 |
| Redding, CA | $83,780 | 1,110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $79,900 | 4,540 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,800 | 5,610 |
Highest-paying states for elementary school teachers, except special education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,350 |
| California | $99,650 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 |
| New York | $85,760 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 |
| Alaska | $79,260 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 |
| Maryland | $77,680 |
See Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $101,370 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,950 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $97,170 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $101,060 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $103,050 | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,550 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $101,530 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $80,620 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $59,550 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $46,490 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Tutor | $45,100 | $21.69 |
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 25-2021. 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 elementary school teachers, except special education make in California?
The median salary for elementary school teachers, except special education in California is $99,650 a year. Pay ranges from $61,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid elementary school teachers, except special education make in California?
The top 10% of elementary school teachers, except special education in California earn at least $127,070 a year. The top 25% earn $119,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for elementary school teachers, except special education in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,940 a year, and a quarter of elementary school teachers, except special education earn $77,140 or less.
How many elementary school teachers, except special education work in California?
About 155,160 elementary school teachers, except special education are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.