Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in California
In California, the median pay for preschool teachers, except special education is $22.79 an hour ($47,400 a year). About 55,700 people work in this job there.
That is 24% higher than the U.S. median ($38,140). California ranks 6th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for preschool teachers, except special education in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.21 | $37,870 |
| 25% of workers | $21.11 | $43,910 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.79 | $47,400 |
| 75% of workers | $28.44 | $59,150 |
| 90% of workers | $31.42 | $65,350 |
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Visalia | $56,930 | 430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $53,810 | 10,280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $51,190 | 3,570 |
| Modesto | $49,500 | 640 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $48,130 | 630 |
| Merced | $48,120 | 290 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $47,780 | 420 |
| Salinas | $47,280 | 600 |
| Vallejo | $46,960 | 450 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $46,710 | 620 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $46,600 | 18,430 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $46,470 | 680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $46,200 | 320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $46,120 | 1,260 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $46,010 | 3,560 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $45,880 | 890 |
| Napa | $45,660 | 190 |
| Yuba City | $45,240 | 210 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $45,040 | 140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $44,940 | 5,130 |
| Fresno | $44,740 | 1,800 |
| Redding | $44,580 | 220 |
| El Centro | $44,370 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $44,250 | 3,070 |
| Chico | $44,080 | 300 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for preschool teachers, except special education
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +4.5% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 66,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
Other job titles for this job
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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.