History Teachers, Postsecondary salary in California
History Teachers, Postsecondary in California earn a median of $127,170 a year, based on BLS data for 1,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,700 for the top 10%. That is 52% higher than the national median of $83,820. California ranks 1st of 45 states for history teachers, postsecondary pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.08 history teachers, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $134,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for history teachers, postsecondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,690 |
| 25th percentile | $85,200 |
| Median | $127,170 |
| 75th percentile | $168,450 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,700 |
| Average (mean) | $134,280 |
Half of history 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 | $10,597.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,298.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,891.15 |
| Weekly | $2,445.58 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because history teachers, postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
History Teachers, Postsecondary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $192,320 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $162,160 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $135,420 | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $129,120 | 480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $127,780 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $127,180 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $121,820 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for history teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $127,170 |
| New Hampshire | $106,880 |
| Massachusetts | $104,900 |
| Oregon | $104,330 |
| Connecticut | $101,950 |
| New York | $100,400 |
| New Jersey | $99,900 |
| Maine | $99,610 |
| Michigan | $99,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,850 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $165,110 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| 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 | — |
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 25-1125. 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 history teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The median salary for history teachers, postsecondary in California is $127,170 a year. Pay ranges from $62,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $217,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid history teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The top 10% of history teachers, postsecondary in California earn at least $217,700 a year. The top 25% earn $168,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for history teachers, postsecondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,690 a year, and a quarter of history teachers, postsecondary earn $85,200 or less.
How many history teachers, postsecondary work in California?
About 1,450 history teachers, postsecondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.