Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Modesto, CA
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median $101,640 a year — 59% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,789 take-home, or $6,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Modesto, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,531
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,302
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,474
- California income tax$5,223
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,321
- Take-home pay$73,789
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Modesto, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,670 | $31.09 | $51,340 | $4,278 |
| 25th percentile | $77,460 | $37.24 | $59,331 | $4,944 |
| Median (50th) | $101,640 | $48.87 | $73,789 | $6,149 |
| 75th percentile | $124,710 | $59.96 | $87,516 | $7,293 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,290 | $61.68 | $89,583 | $7,465 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,640 buys in Modesto, CA
Prices in Modesto, CA are 4.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.08× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median elementary school teachers, except special education's $73,789 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,878 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Modesto, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of elementary school teachers, except special education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Modesto, CA ranks #3 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,920 | $81,234 | $73,096 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $101,640 | $73,789 | $70,878 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $103,390 | $74,835 | $70,156 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $98,600 | $74,347 | $69,572 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $80,360 | $63,936 | $68,975 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $97,400 | $71,256 | $67,805 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $98,520 | $71,925 | $67,572 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in California
- Visalia, CA — $98,430
- Sacramento, CA — $103,390
- Stockton, CA — $97,400
- Riverside, CA — $98,520
- San Jose, CA — $102,860
- Oxnard, CA — $99,420
- Los Angeles, CA — $101,860
- San Francisco, CA — $101,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Modesto, CA?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Modesto, CA metro area is $101,640 a year, or about $48.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,460 and $124,710.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Modesto, CA?
On the median $101,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,789 a year ($6,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,544 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Modesto, CA a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 59% above the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 4.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,878 would in a typical U.S. city. Modesto, CA ranks #3 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford rent in Modesto, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Modesto, CA is $1,356 a month ($1,758 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.