Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in San Jose, CA
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $105,030 a year — 63% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,815 take-home, or $6,318 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,277
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,512
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,523
- California income tax$5,538
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,365
- Take-home pay$75,815
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,620 | $36.84 | $58,819 | $4,902 |
| 25th percentile | $83,170 | $39.99 | $62,754 | $5,229 |
| Median (50th) | $105,030 | $50.50 | $75,815 | $6,318 |
| 75th percentile | $133,290 | $64.08 | $92,471 | $7,706 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,110 | $64.48 | $92,944 | $7,745 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,030 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $75,815 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,659 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are less concentrated in San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #7 of 50 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,560 | $80,981 | $72,869 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $89,950 | $67,843 | $70,785 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $96,030 | $72,680 | $70,738 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $99,360 | $74,840 | $70,033 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $84,800 | $65,883 | $69,592 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $100,810 | $73,294 | $68,858 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $105,030 | $75,815 | $68,659 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $80,580 | $64,084 | $68,231 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 50 metros →
About the job: middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high 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.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in California
- Riverside, CA — $100,810
- Los Angeles, CA — $98,370
- San Francisco, CA — $81,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in San Jose, CA?
The median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $105,030 a year, or about $50.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,170 and $133,290.
What is a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $105,030 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $75,815 a year ($6,318 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,904 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 63% above the national median of $64,370. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,659 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #7 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical 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) — 47% of a median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical 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
- 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
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $51,190
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $49,010