Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in San Diego, CA
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $97,000 a year — 52% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,017 take-home, or $5,918 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,510
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,014
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,407
- California income tax$4,791
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,261
- Take-home pay$71,017
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,140 | $29.88 | $49,524 | $4,127 |
| 25th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 | $57,848 | $4,821 |
| Median (50th) | $97,000 | $46.63 | $71,017 | $5,918 |
| 75th percentile | $110,420 | $53.09 | $79,036 | $6,586 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,450 | $59.35 | $86,788 | $7,232 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,000 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $71,017 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,472 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $97,000 | $71,017 | $63,472 |
*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
- Modesto, CA — $101,640
- 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
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in San Diego, CA?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $97,000 a year, or about $46.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,030 and $110,420.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $97,000 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $71,017 a year ($5,918 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,052 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 52% above the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,472 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #19 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school 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) — 42% of a median elementary school 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
- 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
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $44,940