Salary distribution
Where California elementary school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $74,940 and $107,020, with a median of $98,190.
Elementary School Teachers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 185 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $72,051. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 50 | $68,570 |
| Level II — qualified | 15 | $82,577 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $110,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $124,800 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Elementary School Teachers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollister School District | Elementary Teacher | 10 | $87,237 |
| Education for Change | Public School Teacher | 9 | $80,813 |
| Palmdale Elementary School District | Elementary School Teacher | 9 | $93,290 |
| Redwood City School District | Mandarin Immersion Teacher | 8 | $85,380 |
| Ontario-Montclair School District | Elementary Dual Language Immersion Teacher | 8 | $70,710 |
| Los Angeles Unified School District | Teacher | 7 | $68,966 |
| Yu Ming Charter School | Chinese Lead Classroom Teacher (Elementary) | 7 | $61,013 |
| Garvey Elementary School District | 3rd Grade Dual Language Mandarin Teacher | 6 | $79,134 |
| Buckeye Union School District | Elementary Teacher - Mandarin Immersion | 6 | $57,629 |
| San Jose Unified School District | Bilingual Elementary Teacher | 6 | $70,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Teacher, Regular Education at West Contra Costa Unified School District$80,246San PabloDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-504100
- Grade 5 Elementary Teacher at The Phillips Brooks School$93,600Menlo ParkDecided Dec 16, 2025I-202-25343-469423
- Spanish Immersion Teacher at Redwood City School District$82,853AthertonDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25338-456079
- Bible Teacher at Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists$96,896HaywardDecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25317-404224
- Bible Teacher at Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists$96,896HaywardDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-398410
- Teacher at Placerville Union School District$64,278PlacervilleDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-388470
- Elementary Dual Language Immersion Teacher at Ontario-Montclair School District$70,710MontclairDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-389723
- Lower School Spanish Teacher at Escuela Bilingue Internacional$79,803EmeryvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-384489
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Elementary School Teachers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Elementary School Teachers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 102 certified offers. The most common variant is Teacher at a median of $68,966.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Los Angeles Unified School District | 30 | $68,966 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Palmdale Elementary School District | 18 | $93,290 |
| Elementary Teacher | Hollister School District | 14 | $78,000 |
| Public School Teacher | Education for Change | 9 | $80,813 |
| Elementary Teacher - Mandarin Immersion | Buckeye Union School District | 6 | $57,629 |
| Music Teacher | Compton Unified School District | 5 | $70,000 |
| Mandarin Immersion Teacher | Redwood City School District | 4 | $92,194 |
| Chinese Lead Classroom Teacher (Elementary) | Yu Ming Charter School | 4 | $61,318 |
| Montessori Teacher | Bowman International School | 3 | $82,577 |
| Mandarin Teacher | Yu Ming Charter School | 3 | $64,480 |
| Dual Language Immersion Teacher | Chino Valley Unified School District | 3 | $91,452 |
| English Teacher | SING IN CHINESE LLC | 3 | $64,480 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Elementary School Teachers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 185 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $72,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Hollister School District | 173 | $72,000 |
| Government and public sector | Garvey Elementary School District | 6 | $79,134 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists | 4 | $80,648 |
| Healthcare | SpEd Therapy Services, Inc. | 2 | $77,965 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- 02
Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- 03
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 04
Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- 05
Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- 06
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 07
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- 08
Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-2.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for elementary school teachers in major California metropolitan areas.
- Los Angeles$100,580
- San Jose$99,780
- San Francisco$98,890
- Sacramento$98,270
- Riverside$97,560
- San Diego$78,430
Compare Elementary School Teachers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Elementary School Teachers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers in California is $98,190.
- How does California compare to the national median for Elementary School Teachers?
- The California median is +44.7% versus the BLS national figure of $67,847.
- What is the salary range for Elementary School Teachers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $60,330 and the 90th-percentile at $126,440, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Elementary School Teachers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -2.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Elementary School Teachers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.