Secondary School Teachers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
California's median secondary school teacher earned $98,710 in 2024, about 37% above the national median of $72,150. That is one of the larger state premiums we see for this occupation across the country.
The pay range is worth looking at closely. Teachers at the 10th percentile earned $61,940, while those at the 90th earned $133,160. Top earners make roughly twice what the lowest earners do. That gap reflects a mix of district, subject area, union contract, and years of service. A teacher in a well-funded suburban district with two decades of seniority lands in a very different place than a first-year hire in a lower-funded one.
California's cost of living runs about 14.8% above the national average. After adjusting for that, the $98,710 median translates to closer to $86,000 in national-baseline dollars. The premium over the US median narrows from 37% to roughly 19%. Still real, but smaller than the headline figure suggests.
BLS projects employment for secondary school teachers nationwide to decline 1.6% between 2024 and 2034. That puts the occupation in BLS's decline category, driven largely by enrollment trends and state budget pressures rather than anything specific to California. The state's 96,050 employed secondary teachers still represent one of the largest single-state workforces for this occupation, so openings from retirements and turnover will continue even if net growth is negative.
Salary distribution
Where California secondary school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,710 and $125,920, with a median of $101,370.
Secondary School Teachers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 86 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $72,764. 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 | 32 | $76,125 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $94,802 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $106,605 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $99,759 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Secondary School Teachers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Unified School District | Teacher | 11 | $68,966 |
| John Adams Academy | Teacher/Education Specialist | 8 | $78,063 |
| South Monterey County Joint Union High School District | Math Teacher | 6 | $58,160 |
| San Jose Unified School District | Spanish Teacher | 5 | $70,000 |
| Leadership Public Schools | Mathematics Teacher | 4 | $71,817 |
| San Francisco University High School | Biology Instructor | 3 | $80,733 |
| Vallejo City Unified School District | High School Science Teacher | 3 | $59,813 |
| West Contra Costa Unified School District | Regular Education Teacher | 3 | $93,721 |
| CAPITAL COLLEGE & CAREER ACADEMY | MATHEMATICS TEACHER | 2 | $68,640 |
| Lighthouse Community Public Schools | High School Mathematics Teacher | 2 | $94,936 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Math Teacher at Invictus Academy of Richmond$63,977El CerritoWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-718257
- Teacher Regular Education at West Contra Costa Unified School District$93,721RichmondDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-696653
- Mathematics Teacher at Leadership Public Schools$76,155RichmondDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685122
- Teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District$68,966Los AngelesDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-654991
- Teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District$68,966HollywoodDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-654976
- Teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District$68,966ChatsworthDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-654970
- Secondary History Geography Teacher at Lycee Francais De San Francisco$82,249San FranciscoDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26048-645538
- Certificated Teacher - Mathematics at Mountain View Los Altos High School District$106,025Mountain ViewDecided Feb 17, 2026I-203-26040-628260
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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Secondary 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.
Secondary School Teachers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 50 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 | 14 | $68,966 |
| Math Teacher | South Monterey County Joint Union High School District | 7 | $63,977 |
| Mathematics Teacher | Leadership Public Schools | 7 | $68,640 |
| Spanish Teacher | San Jose Unified School District | 6 | $76,983 |
| Teacher/Education Specialist | John Adams Academy | 5 | $76,125 |
| Secondary School Teacher | ST GENEVIEVE HIGH SCHOOL | 5 | $67,704 |
| Science Teacher | Marin Academy | 3 | $70,320 |
| High School Math Teacher | ANDERSON VALLEY UNIFIED | 3 | $95,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Secondary School Teachers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 86 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $72,974.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Los Angeles Unified School District | 85 | $72,974 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Southern California Liberty Baptist Church | 1 | $67,700 |
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
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 02
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- 03
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- 04
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 05
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 06
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- 07
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- 08
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-1.6%
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 secondary school teachers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$108,230
- Sacramento$105,060
- San Francisco$102,880
- San Diego$102,810
- Los Angeles$100,960
- Riverside$100,130
Compare Secondary School Teachers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Secondary School Teachers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers in California is $101,370.
- How does California compare to the national median for Secondary School Teachers?
- The California median is +35.9% versus the BLS national figure of $74,587.
- What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,600 and the 90th-percentile at $132,600, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Secondary School Teachers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -1.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Secondary 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.