Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in San Diego, CA
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $102,810 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,489 take-home, or $6,207 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,788
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,374
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,491
- California income tax$5,332
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,337
- Take-home pay$74,489
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,660 | $32.05 | $52,738 | $4,395 |
| 25th percentile | $78,920 | $37.94 | $60,214 | $5,018 |
| Median (50th) | $102,810 | $49.43 | $74,489 | $6,207 |
| 75th percentile | $124,670 | $59.94 | $87,493 | $7,291 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,870 | $106.67 | $145,426 | $12,119 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,810 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $74,489 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,575 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $102,810 | $74,489 | $66,575 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in California
- Fresno, CA — $100,750
- Bakersfield, CA — $99,150
- Sacramento, CA — $105,060
- San Jose, CA — $108,230
- Riverside, CA — $100,130
- Los Angeles, CA — $100,960
- San Francisco, CA — $102,880
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in San Diego, CA?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $102,810 a year, or about $49.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,920 and $124,670.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $102,810 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $74,489 a year ($6,207 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,668 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,575 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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) — 40% of a median secondary 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 Diego, CA
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $101,820
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $97,000
- 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