Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in California

In California, the median pay for special education teachers, secondary school is $101,060 a year. About 12,100 people work in this job there.

$101,060Median yearly pay

$79,740–$123,840Middle half of workers, yearly

12,100People in this job in California

That is 36% higher than the U.S. median ($74,260). California ranks 2nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for special education teachers, secondary school in California

Earns more than	Yearly
10% of workers	$63,390
25% of workers	$79,740
Half of workers (median)	$101,060
75% of workers	$123,840
90% of workers	$131,600

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in California metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	$117,640	400
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	$115,160	1,220
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	$105,160	1,260
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	$104,090	290
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	$103,730	1,630
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	$101,060	70
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	$100,900	3,920
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	$100,880	150
Salinas	$100,450	150
Vallejo	$99,930	110
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	$99,900	700
Fresno	$98,860	490
Modesto	$98,170	220
Merced	$98,040	120
Stockton-Lodi	$97,310	230
El Centro	$97,000	90
Yuba City	$96,260	90
Hanford-Corcoran	$76,610	70
Bakersfield-Delano	$74,690	0

California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for special education teachers, secondary school

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
Job outlook: -0.2% over ten years, little or no change · about 10,400 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in California

Job	Median yearly pay
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$99,650
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$101,370
Tutors	$45,100
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	$82,550
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	$101,530
Special Education Teachers, Preschool	$59,550
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors	$102,030
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	$47,400

Other job titles for this job

Resource SpecialistBraille TeacherBlind TeacherDeaf TeacherEmotionally Impaired TeacherExceptional Student Education TeacherEse TeacherHearing Impaired TeacherLearning Disabled TeacherLearning Support TeacherLip Reading TeacherPhysically Impaired Teacher

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Source: 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.