Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in San Jose, CA
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $51,190 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,525 take-home, or $3,460 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,963
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,174
- Medicare (1.45%)$742
- California income tax$1,121
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$665
- Take-home pay$41,525
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% 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 Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,460 | $21.86 | $37,308 | $3,109 |
| 25th percentile | $46,840 | $22.52 | $38,344 | $3,195 |
| Median (50th) | $51,190 | $24.61 | $41,525 | $3,460 |
| 75th percentile | $59,240 | $28.48 | $47,405 | $3,950 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,900 | $35.05 | $56,548 | $4,712 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,190 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median preschool teachers, except special education's $41,525 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,605 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 Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $53,810
- Riverside, CA — $46,010
- Sacramento, CA — $44,250
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,600
- San Diego, CA — $44,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in San Jose, CA?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $51,190 a year, or about $24.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,840 and $59,240.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $51,190 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $41,525 a year ($3,460 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,786 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,605 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 85% 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 Jose, CA
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $108,230
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $105,030
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $102,860
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $94,690
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — $79,270
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $72,330
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $58,330
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $49,010