Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education Salary Information in California

The average annual salaries for preschool teachers, except special education in the state of California are shown in Table 1. The comparison of the salary statistics of preschool teachers, except special education among California cities is shown in Table 2. The salary statistics are based on the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1 & 2. Annual Salary of Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in California (2022 Survey)

Percentile bracketAverage annual salary
10th Percentile Wage
$31,290
25th Percentile Wage
$36,370
50th Percentile Wage
$39,040
75th Percentile Wage
$48,300
90th Percentile Wage
$62,940

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for preschool teachers, except special education in California in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is $62,940. The median (50th percentile) annual salary is $39,040. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $31,290.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of preschool teachers, except special education from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$39,040
5.02% 21.34%
2021
$37,080
1.78% -
2020
$36,420
3.90% -
2019
$35,000
1.14% -
2018
$34,600
2.69% -
2017
$33,670
3.06% -
2016
$32,640
2.82% -
2015
$31,720
1.67% -
2014
$31,190
-0.55% -
2013
$31,360
2.07% -
2012
$30,710
- -

Table 3. Median Annual Salary of Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in California Cities (2022 Survey)

Table 3 shows the median annual salary of preschool teachers, except special education in some California cities and metropolitan areas. We note that the median annual salary of preschool teachers, except special education in state of California ranges from $23,410 to $47,040. The highest paying area for preschool teachers, except special education in California is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara with a median annual salary of $47,040. The second highest paying city/area in California State is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (mean annual salary $45,050). The lowest paying area is Hanford-Corcoran with a median annual salary of $23,410.

Cities/Areas Median Annual Salary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
$47,040
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
$45,050
Madera-Chowchilla
$44,630
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$42,960
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City
$42,830
Merced
$42,750
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$42,740
Eastern Sierra Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$42,620
Salinas
$41,320
Stockton
$40,080
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
$39,830
Modesto
$39,530
Napa
$38,670
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$38,530
Vallejo-Fairfield
$38,380
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
$38,330
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
$38,290
El Centro
$38,290
Visalia-Porterville
$38,220
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
$37,930
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward
$37,740
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
$37,720
Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville
$37,680
Fresno
$37,630
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
$37,330
Bakersfield-Delano
$37,320
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
$36,830
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos
$36,810
Redding
$36,640
Yuba City
$36,450
Chico
$35,060
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta
$34,030
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
$32,170
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine
$31,270
Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$31,060
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana
$29,820
North Valley Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$27,860
Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$23,680
Hanford-Corcoran
$23,410