Elementary School Teacher Salary in California: $100,082 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median elementary school teacher pay sits at $100,082/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 25-2021. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $88,490 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($105,275), Santa Ana ($105,169), Santa Clara ($104,584).

Elementary School Teacher Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California elementary school teacher salary overview (2026)

$100,082

Avg Median Salary

$48.12

Avg Hourly Rate

153,159

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for elementary school teachers in California is projected to be $100,081, significantly higher than the national median of $64,597, representing a difference of +54.9%. The highest paying city is Sunnyvale at $106,307, while the lowest is Fresno, with a salary of $79,572, creating a salary gap of $26,735 between these two cities. This disparity is primarily driven by the cost of living, local funding for schools, and demand for teachers in specific areas. California has specific state licensing requirements that can influence salaries, including stringent credentialing processes. Additionally, scope of practice laws and high demand for qualified educators in certain metropolitan areas further impact compensation. The projected employment growth rate for elementary school teachers in the state is 0.98%, indicating a stable job market in this sector. The total number of employed elementary school teachers in California stands at 153,159 as of the 2026 projection, with cities like Santa Ana ($106,200), Santa Clara ($105,609), Oakland ($105,199), and Folsom ($105,109) also ranking among the top salary offerings. Overall, prospects for elementary school educators in California are favorable, particularly in urban centers where funding and demand align for higher salaries.

California Elementary School Teacher Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$63,181

avg across 158 cities

Median

$100,082

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$128,532

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $60,235 (lowest entry-level) to $164,775 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$100,082

National Median

$64,597

California elementary school teachers earn 54.93% more than the national median (+$35,485/year difference).

California Elementary School Teacher Salary Distribution (2026)

Elementary School Teacher salaries in California range from $63,181 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $128,532 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $100,082. The California median is $35,485 above the US national median of $64,597. The average hourly rate is $48.12/hr. Approximately 153,159 elementary school teachers are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$82,499

2025 BLS Actual

$99,110

2026 Current Est.

$100,082

2019–2027 Growth

+22.5%

Salary Trajectory for Elementary School Teachers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 0.98% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$82,499	Actual
2020	$85,275	Actual
2021	$90,101	Actual
2022	$90,804	Actual
2023	$95,625	Actual
2024	$95,984	Actual
2025	$99,110	Actual
2026(current)	$100,082	Estimated
2027	$101,063	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median elementary school teacher salary grew 20.1% from $82,499 (2019) to $99,110 (2025). At a 0.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $101,063 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,564 (22.50%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 0.98% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $51.11/hr

$106,307

+6.22% vs avg

Santa Ana

69 employed · $51.06/hr

$106,200

+6.11% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $50.77/hr

$105,609

+5.52% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $50.58/hr

$105,199

+5.11% vs avg

Folsom

17 employed · $50.53/hr

$105,109

+5.02% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Fresno	$79,572	-20.49%	$38.25
Bakersfield	$80,683	-19.38%	$38.79
Redding	$84,601	-15.47%	$40.67
Brea	$95,099	-4.98%	$45.72
Chico	$95,931	-4.15%	$46.12

Best Value Cities for Elementary School Teachers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for elementary school teachers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
El Centro	$101,374	95.174	$106,514
Merced	$101,101	98.275	$102,876
Visalia	$99,395	99.825	$99,569
Modesto	$102,636	104.108	$98,586
Sacramento	$104,403	106.67	$97,875

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$63,181	$30.38	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$100,082	$48.12	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$128,532	$61.79	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$106,307	$51.11	$78,265	$164,775	26
2	Santa Ana	$106,200	$51.06	$73,518	$164,610	69
3	Santa Clara	$105,609	$50.77	$76,638	$163,694	32
4	Oakland	$105,199	$50.58	$75,121	$163,058	78
5	Folsom	$105,109	$50.53	$75,689	$162,919	17
6	Anaheim	$104,689	$50.33	$73,864	$162,268	51
7	Sacramento	$104,403	$50.20	$61,578	$118,248	10,480
8	Fontana	$104,235	$50.12	$72,247	$161,564	32
9	Irvine	$104,120	$50.06	$76,572	$161,387	72
10	Roseville	$103,973	$49.99	$80,095	$161,158	35
11	San Jose	$103,868	$49.93	$65,405	$128,224	7,810
12	Pomona	$103,613	$49.81	$75,865	$160,600	36
13	Simi Valley	$103,555	$49.78	$76,044	$160,511	23
14	Escondido	$103,531	$49.77	$76,091	$160,472	31
15	Fairfield	$103,345	$49.68	$75,552	$160,185	25
16	Long Beach	$103,200	$49.61	$70,637	$159,959	89
17	Fullerton	$102,964	$49.50	$74,357	$159,595	25
18	Fremont	$102,878	$49.46	$69,928	$159,462	43
19	Daly City	$102,875	$49.46	$74,151	$159,457	20
20	Los Angeles	$102,858	$49.45	$62,860	$130,395	44,790
21	San Francisco	$102,858	$49.45	$62,951	$127,942	17,860
22	El Monte	$102,843	$49.44	$74,489	$159,407	20
23	Vista	$102,786	$49.42	$74,357	$159,317	24
24	Concord	$102,761	$49.41	$74,301	$159,280	29
25	Modesto	$102,636	$49.35	$65,304	$129,547	2,450
26	Clovis	$102,608	$49.33	$73,945	$159,042	19
27	Garden Grove	$102,503	$49.28	$73,290	$158,879	37
28	Temecula	$102,479	$49.27	$73,646	$158,842	25
29	Santa Clarita	$102,410	$49.24	$75,726	$158,736	41
30	Lancaster	$102,276	$49.17	$73,179	$158,527	40
31	Inglewood	$102,276	$49.17	$73,179	$158,527	21
32	Corona	$102,146	$49.11	$72,779	$158,327	24
33	Richmond	$102,130	$49.10	$72,435	$158,301	25
34	Rialto	$102,082	$49.08	$72,733	$158,227	17
35	Santa Maria	$102,020	$49.05	$63,143	$125,993	2,170
36	Torrance	$101,951	$49.02	$72,026	$158,025	26
37	Vallejo	$101,778	$48.93	$63,254	$132,304	1,680
38	Elk Grove	$101,758	$48.92	$71,890	$157,725	25
39	Oceanside	$101,733	$48.91	$71,834	$157,686	28
40	Whittier	$101,703	$48.89	$76,607	$157,640	22
41	San Rafael	$101,695	$48.89	$76,484	$157,627	11
42	Rancho Cucamonga	$101,604	$48.84	$71,538	$157,486	46
43	Hayward	$101,546	$48.82	$71,409	$157,398	23
44	Woodland	$101,520	$48.80	$76,067	$157,356	15
45	Buena Park	$101,505	$48.80	$76,134	$157,333	20
46	Encinitas	$101,497	$48.79	$76,115	$157,321	16
47	Downey	$101,490	$48.79	$70,975	$157,310	22
48	Dublin	$101,433	$48.76	$75,963	$157,222	14
49	Redlands	$101,401	$48.75	$75,886	$157,171	16
50	Napa	$101,394	$48.74	$63,405	$132,041	570
51	El Centro	$101,374	$48.73	$61,396	$136,899	860
52	Chino	$101,346	$48.72	$75,650	$157,085	17
53	Westminster	$101,314	$48.71	$75,264	$157,037	21
54	Santa Monica	$101,306	$48.70	$75,556	$157,025	20
55	San Mateo	$101,296	$48.70	$70,838	$157,009	21
56	Tulare	$101,267	$48.68	$75,462	$156,963	17
57	San Buenaventura	$101,231	$48.67	$78,327	$156,909	19
58	Salinas	$101,202	$48.65	$64,678	$126,679	2,280
59	Mission Viejo	$101,164	$48.63	$75,321	$156,804	23
60	Moreno Valley	$101,163	$48.63	$73,337	$156,803	53
61	Pleasanton	$101,148	$48.63	$75,283	$156,779	16
62	Merced	$101,101	$48.60	$75,250	$130,678	1,560
63	Pasadena	$101,004	$48.56	$75,312	$156,556	35
64	Santee	$100,934	$48.52	$74,775	$156,447	9
65	Glendale	$100,843	$48.48	$77,418	$156,306	36
66	Ontario	$100,827	$48.47	$72,649	$156,281	42
67	Mountain View	$100,790	$48.46	$74,436	$156,225	13
68	Pittsburg	$100,782	$48.45	$74,004	$156,212	19
69	Novato	$100,751	$48.44	$74,239	$156,164	11
70	Costa Mesa	$100,712	$48.42	$74,639	$156,104	23
71	Berkeley	$100,607	$48.37	$76,872	$155,941	23
72	Huntington Beach	$100,583	$48.36	$77,118	$155,904	50
73	Jurupa Valley	$100,494	$48.32	$76,911	$155,766	24
74	Hemet	$100,465	$48.30	$73,669	$155,721	14
75	Union City	$100,457	$48.30	$73,650	$155,708	11
76	West Covina	$100,446	$48.29	$76,798	$155,691	25
77	Chino Hills	$100,418	$48.28	$73,454	$155,648	21
78	Oxnard	$100,394	$48.27	$63,799	$124,609	3,060
79	Gilroy	$100,274	$48.21	$73,221	$155,425	10
80	Santa Cruz	$100,233	$48.19	$62,678	$127,386	1,000
81	San Marcos	$100,219	$48.18	$72,680	$155,339	17
82	Tustin	$100,132	$48.14	$72,476	$155,204	18
83	San Ramon	$100,124	$48.14	$72,867	$155,192	19
84	Santa Rosa	$100,031	$48.10	$60,719	$120,732	2,180
85	Eastvale	$100,028	$48.09	$72,644	$155,043	10
86	Murrieta	$100,025	$48.09	$75,925	$155,039	25
87	Vacaville	$100,025	$48.09	$75,925	$155,039	15
88	Thousand Oaks	$99,988	$48.07	$77,139	$154,982	32
89	Brentwood	$99,980	$48.07	$72,533	$154,970	13
90	Hesperia	$99,933	$48.05	$72,422	$154,896	14
91	Lake Elsinore	$99,925	$48.04	$72,403	$154,883	18
92	Citrus Heights	$99,798	$47.98	$72,107	$154,686	19
93	El Cajon	$99,709	$47.94	$71,943	$154,549	18
94	San Clemente	$99,679	$47.93	$71,727	$154,503	10
95	Bellflower	$99,639	$47.90	$71,737	$154,441	11
96	San Bernardino	$99,609	$47.88	$67,863	$154,393	33
97	Palmdale	$99,596	$47.88	$74,836	$154,373	29
98	La Mirada	$99,595	$47.88	$77,143	$154,371	10
99	Apple Valley	$99,575	$47.87	$71,589	$154,342	19
100	Menifee	$99,546	$47.85	$74,824	$154,296	20
101	Yucaipa	$99,505	$47.83	$71,423	$154,232	14
102	Norwalk	$99,498	$47.83	$74,613	$154,222	22
103	Riverside	$99,485	$47.83	$62,941	$132,132	18,850
104	Hanford	$99,435	$47.80	$63,658	$128,568	950
105	Rancho Cordova	$99,409	$47.79	$71,202	$154,083	20
106	Visalia	$99,395	$47.78	$63,102	$127,457	2,440
107	Montebello	$99,314	$47.74	$70,982	$153,937	16
108	Compton	$99,274	$47.72	$70,788	$153,875	25
109	Porterville	$99,203	$47.69	$70,724	$153,764	11
110	Lompoc	$99,190	$47.68	$76,253	$153,523	8
111	Petaluma	$99,075	$47.63	$77,088	$153,565	12
112	Hawthorne	$99,036	$47.61	$70,340	$153,506	13
113	Antioch	$99,004	$47.60	$73,485	$153,456	17
114	Burbank	$98,996	$47.59	$70,336	$153,443	22
115	Alhambra	$98,767	$47.48	$77,619	$153,088	13
116	Livermore	$98,767	$47.48	$74,332	$153,088	21
117	Orange	$98,736	$47.47	$72,976	$153,041	21
118	South Gate	$98,734	$47.47	$77,139	$153,038	25
119	Victorville	$98,712	$47.46	$72,922	$153,004	30
120	West Sacramento	$98,679	$47.44	$77,007	$152,952	9
121	Poway	$98,653	$47.43	$74,942	$151,881	8
122	San Luis Obispo	$98,577	$47.39	$62,406	$127,154	1,140
123	San Leandro	$98,520	$47.37	$76,934	$152,706	23
124	Indio	$98,409	$47.31	$76,368	$152,534	23
125	Lake Forest	$98,409	$47.31	$76,368	$152,534	14
126	Stockton	$98,355	$47.29	$63,163	$120,227	3,380
127	Carson	$98,234	$47.23	$76,359	$152,264	21
128	Rocklin	$98,218	$47.22	$76,321	$152,238	10
129	Chula Vista	$98,065	$47.15	$66,417	$152,000	51
130	Newport Beach	$98,052	$47.14	$75,928	$151,980	12
131	Redwood City	$98,044	$47.14	$75,809	$151,968	13
132	Turlock	$98,020	$47.13	$75,753	$151,931	17
133	Manteca	$97,988	$47.11	$75,778	$151,881	13
134	Perris	$97,980	$47.11	$75,358	$151,869	12
135	San Diego	$97,951	$47.09	$62,749	$124,660	11,340
136	Yuba City	$97,951	$47.09	$63,032	$125,942	920
137	Madera	$97,901	$47.07	$75,573	$151,747	8
138	Baldwin Park	$97,726	$46.99	$75,063	$151,476	19
139	Palo Alto	$97,726	$46.99	$75,163	$151,476	15
140	Lakewood	$97,686	$46.97	$75,070	$151,413	19
141	Beaumont	$97,400	$46.82	$74,002	$150,970	9
142	Tracy	$97,377	$46.81	$74,347	$150,935	14
143	Alameda	$97,345	$46.80	$74,272	$150,884	12
144	Laguna Niguel	$97,321	$46.79	$73,817	$150,848	16
145	Milpitas	$97,274	$46.76	$74,105	$150,775	16
146	Carlsbad	$97,132	$46.69	$73,887	$150,554	23
147	Camarillo	$97,067	$46.66	$73,625	$150,454	13
148	Oakley	$97,028	$46.65	$71,031	$150,393	8
149	Davis	$97,003	$46.63	$73,378	$150,355	14
150	Lodi	$96,997	$46.63	$74,714	$150,346	14
151	Upland	$96,933	$46.60	$72,915	$150,246	18
152	La Habra	$96,789	$46.53	$72,881	$150,024	16
153	Lynwood	$96,750	$46.51	$72,889	$149,962	16
154	Chico	$95,931	$46.12	$61,497	$121,741	1,120
155	Brea	$95,099	$45.72	$74,250	$147,404	10
156	Redding	$84,601	$40.67	$60,235	$121,923	1,110
157	Bakersfield	$80,683	$38.79	$61,830	$119,742	4,540
158	Fresno	$79,572	$38.25	$60,426	$135,041	5,610

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore elementary school teacher hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Ana →Santa Clara →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new elementary school teachers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Ana →Santa Clara →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced elementary school teachers.

Sunnyvale →Santa Ana →Santa Clara →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Elementary School Teacher Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do elementary school teachers make in California in 2026?

The average median elementary school teacher salary in California is $100,082/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $79,572 in Fresno to $106,307 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 54.93% above the national median of $64,597. The state employs approximately 153,159 elementary school teachers.

What is the highest paying city for elementary school teachers in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest elementary school teacher salary in California at $106,307/year ($51.11/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($106,307), Santa Ana ($106,200), Santa Clara ($105,609). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for education services, and competition among employers for licensed elementary school teachers.

How does California elementary school teacher pay compare to the national average?

California's average elementary school teacher salary of $100,082 is 54.93% above the national median of $64,597 in 2026. The state employs approximately 153,159 elementary school teachers across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level elementary school teacher salary in California?

Entry-level elementary school teachers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $63,181/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $60,235 in lower-paying areas to $80,095 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many elementary school teachers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 153,159 elementary school teachers across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of elementary school teachers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the education field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for elementary school teachers?

When adjusted for cost of living, El Centro offers the highest purchasing power for elementary school teachers in California, with an adjusted salary of $106,514 (nominal: $101,374, CoL index: 95.174). This means your dollar goes 5% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Jordan Lee, M.Ed.

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in elementary education. They focus on curriculum development and teaching methodologies. Their experience includes working in public schools.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, MAData verified by David Kim, Ed.D.

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 0.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 elementary school teacher compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more elementary school teacherscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.98%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for elementary school teachers (SOC 25-2021).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, M.Ed., a licensed elementary school teacher with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 9, 2026

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