Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in San Francisco, CA
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $105,290 a year — 62% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,970 take-home, or $6,331 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,334
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,528
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,527
- California income tax$5,562
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,369
- Take-home pay$75,970
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,560 | $35.85 | $57,561 | $4,797 |
| 25th percentile | $78,330 | $37.66 | $59,862 | $4,988 |
| Median (50th) | $105,290 | $50.62 | $75,970 | $6,331 |
| 75th percentile | $123,590 | $59.42 | $86,869 | $7,239 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,590 | $59.42 | $86,869 | $7,239 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,290 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school's $75,970 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,711 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School jobs are about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $97,410 | $72,707 | $67,156 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $105,290 | $75,970 | $65,711 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $91,840 | $67,934 | $63,823 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 | $70,999 | $62,518 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $91,610 | $68,913 | $61,222 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,960 | $60,252 | $60,217 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $64,000 | $53,604 | $59,618 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $79,690 | $61,092 | $58,972 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- 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.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries elsewhere in California
- Riverside, CA — $91,840
- Los Angeles, CA — $96,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in San Francisco, CA?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $105,290 a year, or about $50.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,330 and $123,590.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $105,290 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $75,970 a year ($6,331 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,931 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 62% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,711 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $239,200+
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $102,880
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $101,860
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $82,620
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $81,100
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $79,250
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other — $75,420
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $60,790
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $59,470
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $53,810
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $49,360
- Tutor — $48,340