Middle School Teachers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California middle school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $76,270 and $111,610, with a median of $98,950.
Middle School Teachers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 93 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 | 16 | $65,958 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $85,974 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $100,353 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Middle School Teachers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmdale Elementary School District | Classroom Teacher-Science | 9 | $89,239 |
| San Jose Unified School District | Math Teacher | 8 | $72,051 |
| La Scuola International School | Middle School Teacher | 7 | $80,000 |
| Los Angeles Unified School District | Teacher | 5 | $68,965 |
| Think Academy International Education Inc. | STEM Teacher | 5 | $70,940 |
| King City Union School District | Science Teacher | 4 | $61,459 |
| Palmdale School District | Math Teacher | 4 | $58,752 |
| Southern Kern Unified School District | Middle School Teacher | 4 | $89,184 |
| Vallejo City Unified School District | Science Teacher | 4 | $59,813 |
| West Contra Costa Unified School District | Teacher, Certificated | 4 | $63,387 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Science Teacher at Palmdale School District$59,075PalmdaleDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715686
- Middle School Math Teacher at Redwood City School District$103,077Redwood CityDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715515
- Middle School Science Teacher at Yu Ming Charter School$61,623OaklandDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685764
- Science Teacher/Math Teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District$104,633San JoseWage Level IIIDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-674151
- Christian Middle School Math Teacher at California Crosspoint High School$74,537HaywardWage Level IIDecided Mar 4, 2026I-200-26056-663890
- Classroom Teacher-Science at Palmdale Elementary School District$89,239PalmdaleDecided Feb 11, 2026I-200-26036-620887
- Math Teacher at San Jose Unified School District$72,051San JoseDecided Feb 4, 2026I-200-26028-596334
- Math Teacher at San Jose Unified School District$72,051San JoseDecided Feb 4, 2026I-200-26028-596349
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.
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Middle 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.
Middle School Teachers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 64 certified offers. The most common variant is Teacher at a median of $63,387.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Los Angeles Unified School District | 17 | $63,387 |
| Math Teacher | Palmdale School District | 8 | $65,402 |
| Science Teacher | Vallejo City Unified School District | 7 | $59,813 |
| Middle School Teacher | La Scuola International School | 6 | $75,000 |
| Classroom Teacher-Science | Palmdale Elementary School District | 6 | $92,859 |
| STEM Teacher | Think Academy International Education Inc. | 6 | $78,294 |
| Middle School Science Teacher | Hollister School District | 4 | $86,048 |
| Middle School Math Teacher | Palmdale Elementary School District | 4 | $86,443 |
| Public School Teacher | Education for Change | 3 | $72,469 |
| Middle School Spanish Teacher (Lead) | La Scuola International School | 3 | $80,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Middle School Teachers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 93 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $72,051.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Palmdale Elementary School District | 92 | $72,051 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Love Rock Ministries International Inc | 1 | $39,560 |
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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- 02
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 03
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.
- 04
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 05
Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
- 06
Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
- 07
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 08
Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
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 middle school teachers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$105,030
- Riverside$100,810
- Sacramento$99,360
- Los Angeles$98,370
- San Francisco$81,100
- San Diego$78,460
Compare Middle School Teachers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Middle School Teachers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Middle School Teachers in California is $98,950.
- How does California compare to the national median for Middle School Teachers?
- The California median is +39.1% versus the BLS national figure of $71,125.
- What is the salary range for Middle School Teachers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $62,410 and the 90th-percentile at $129,500, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Middle 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 Middle 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.