Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in San Diego, CA
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $44,940 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,918 take-home, or $3,077 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,213
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,786
- Medicare (1.45%)$652
- California income tax$787
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$584
- Take-home pay$36,918
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,140 | $18.34 | $31,815 | $2,651 |
| 25th percentile | $38,970 | $18.74 | $32,438 | $2,703 |
| Median (50th) | $44,940 | $21.61 | $36,918 | $3,077 |
| 75th percentile | $49,120 | $23.62 | $40,013 | $3,334 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,420 | $29.05 | $48,267 | $4,022 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,940 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $36,918 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,996 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #14 of 39 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $51,190 | $41,525 | $37,605 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $53,810 | $43,439 | $37,573 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $50,230 | $40,424 | $35,913 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,680 | $37,582 | $35,528 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $46,380 | $39,446 | $35,495 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $46,010 | $37,721 | $35,438 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,960 | $35,969 | $34,314 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $46,030 | $37,084 | $34,252 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $44,940 | $36,918 | $32,996 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 39 metros →
About the job: preschool teachers, except special education
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $51,190
- San Francisco, CA — $53,810
- Riverside, CA — $46,010
- Sacramento, CA — $44,250
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in San Diego, CA?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $44,940 a year, or about $21.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,970 and $49,120.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $44,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,918 a year ($3,077 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,371 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,996 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #14 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 80% of a median preschool teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $102,810
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $101,820
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $97,000
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $80,460
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — $62,230
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $59,860
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $48,640
- Tutor — $47,050
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $46,440
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary — $45,120