Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in San Jose, CA
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $102,860 a year — 61% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,518 take-home, or $6,210 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,799
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,377
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,491
- California income tax$5,336
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,337
- Take-home pay$74,518
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 Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,770 | $31.14 | $51,411 | $4,284 |
| 25th percentile | $83,030 | $39.92 | $62,670 | $5,223 |
| Median (50th) | $102,860 | $49.45 | $74,518 | $6,210 |
| 75th percentile | $121,840 | $58.58 | $85,858 | $7,155 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,980 | $61.05 | $88,827 | $7,402 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,860 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $74,518 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,485 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 less concentrated in San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $102,860 | $74,518 | $67,485 |
*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
- 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 San Jose, CA?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $102,860 a year, or about $49.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,030 and $121,840.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $102,860 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $74,518 a year ($6,210 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,674 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 61% above the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,485 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #10 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 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) — 48% 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 Jose, CA
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $108,230
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $105,030
- 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
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $51,190
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $49,010