Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education · California

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in California

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in California earn a median annual wage of $98,950 —53.7% above the national median of $64,370. That ranks CA #2 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$98,950
Median hourly
—
Entry level (P10)
$62,410
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$129,500
90th percentile
Employment
37,300
2.0 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+53.7%
U.S. $64,370

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$62,410
$76,270
$98,950
$111,610
$62,410$98,950$129,500
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $98,950.

Employment is only 0.51× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$102,140—10,5100.74
2California$98,950—37,3000.51
3New York$94,840—38,6701.00
4Connecticut$93,610—7,9201.17
5Rhode Island$92,760—2,3701.19
6Massachusetts$89,450—16,5701.14
7District of Columbia$79,900—1,5400.55
8Utah$79,180—5,9600.86
9Alaska$78,940—1,1500.89
10New Jersey$78,770—23,6501.38

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in California?

The median annual wage for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in California is $98,950, or — per hour. That is 53.7% above the national median of $64,370.

What is the entry-level middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $62,410 per year (—/hour). The 25th percentile is $76,270.

How many people work as middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in California?

About 37,300 people work in this occupation in California, or 2.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education?

California ranks #2 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.51x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $102,140 per year, followed by California ($98,950) and New York ($94,840).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes