Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in California
In California, the median pay for kindergarten teachers, except special education is $82,550 a year. About 7,430 people work in this job there.
That is 32% higher than the U.S. median ($62,680). California ranks 5th of 50 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for kindergarten teachers, except special education in California
| Earns more than | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $53,210 |
| 25% of workers | $64,100 |
| Half of workers (median) | $82,550 |
| 75% of workers | $107,340 |
| 90% of workers | $124,400 |
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $111,880 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $106,000 | 740 |
| Modesto | $103,790 | 160 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $102,450 | 290 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $101,780 | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $96,980 | 60 |
| Yuba City | $96,570 | 60 |
| Merced | $96,430 | 140 |
| Visalia | $96,380 | 240 |
| Napa | $94,500 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $92,910 | 130 |
| Vallejo | $91,640 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $84,620 | 430 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $82,550 | 750 |
| Chico | $82,170 | 70 |
| Redding | $80,550 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78,400 | 1,570 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $78,330 | 440 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $77,370 | 210 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $77,290 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $74,600 | 640 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $71,690 | 470 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -0.3% over ten years, little or no change · about 11,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.