Special Education Teacher salary in California
See how much special education teachers earn in California, including median annual pay, hourly rate, and employment numbers.
Median annual
$76,500
Median hourly
$37
Employment
30,000
Comparison to national average
National median
$65,000
California median
$76,500
Difference
+18%
What that salary is really worth in California
California's cost of living is 138 on an index where the US average is 100 — about 38% more expensive than the national average. Housing is the biggest driver at 200 versus a national baseline of 100.
Nominal median pay
$76,500
Cost-of-living adjusted
$55,435
vs national median
−$9,565
Adjusted for local prices, a special education teacher in California has the buying power of roughly $55,435 at national average prices — less real purchasing power than the national median for this career, despite the headline number.
State income tax
1%–13.3% graduated state income tax
Largest job markets
Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego
Special Education Teacher pay in other states
Related careers in California
About this data
This salary estimate is based on aggregated labor market data. Actual pay can vary by employer, experience level, certifications, and specific location within California. Cost-of-living figures are composite state-level estimates where the US average equals 100.