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 $76,870 and $122,350, with a median of $98,710.
Secondary School Teachers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 64 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $72,196. 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 | 28 | $76,125 |
| Level II — qualified | 7 | $95,000 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Adams Academy | Teacher/Education Specialist | 8 | $78,063 |
| Los Angeles Unified School District | Teacher | 6 | $68,966 |
| South Monterey County Joint Union High School District | Math Teacher | 6 | $58,160 |
| Vallejo City Unified School District | High School Science Teacher | 3 | $59,813 |
| San Francisco University High School | Biology Instructor | 3 | $80,733 |
| San Jose Unified School District | Spanish Teacher | 3 | $70,000 |
| CAPITAL COLLEGE & CAREER ACADEMY | MATHEMATICS TEACHER | 2 | $68,640 |
| The International School of San Francisco | 5th Grade Teacher & Adult Language Coordinator | 2 | $91,000 |
| Lycee Francais de San Francisco | Mandarin Teacher | 2 | $96,545 |
| Southern California Liberty Baptist Church | Teacher | 2 | $67,700 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District$68,966Los AngelesDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-483624
- Secondary School Teacher at Mercy High School Burlingame$92,000BurlingameDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-398065
- High School Science Teacher at Vallejo City Unified School District$59,813VallejoDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-327400
- MATHEMATICS TEACHER at CAPITAL COLLEGE & CAREER ACADEMY$68,640SACRAMENTOWage Level IDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-278194
- Mandarin Language Teacher at San Gabriel Unified School District$71,839San GabrielDecided Aug 29, 2025I-200-25235-262951
- Teacher/Education Specialist at John Adams Academy$76,125El Dorado HillsWage Level IDecided Aug 26, 2025I-200-25231-251294
- Spanish Teacher, Secondary at Mt. Diablo Unified School District$81,914ConcordDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-240845
- Spanish Teacher at Vistamar School$99,881El SegundoWage Level IIDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-234849
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.
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 37 certified offers. The most common variant is Teacher at a median of $68,965.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Los Angeles Unified School District | 7 | $68,965 |
| Mathematics Teacher | South Monterey County Joint Union High School District | 5 | $68,320 |
| Teacher/Education Specialist | John Adams Academy | 5 | $76,125 |
| Spanish Teacher | San Jose Unified School District | 5 | $81,914 |
| Math Teacher | South Monterey County Joint Union High School District | 5 | $59,813 |
| Secondary School Teacher | Mercy High School Burlingame | 4 | $67,704 |
| Science Teacher | Southern Kern Unified School District | 3 | $70,320 |
| High School Math Teacher | SEG, Inc. | 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 64 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $72,553.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | John Adams Academy | 63 | $72,553 |
| 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 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
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.
- Sacramento$103,640
- San Jose$103,640
- San Francisco$99,840
- San Diego$99,740
- Los Angeles$97,970
- Riverside$97,910
Compare Secondary School Teachers pay across nearby states
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 $98,710.
- How does California compare to the national median for Secondary School Teachers?
- The California median is +36.8% versus the BLS national figure of $72,150.
- What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,940 and the 90th-percentile at $133,160, 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.