Quick answer: California employs about 23,280 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state education agency for current certification requirements. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare special education programs enrolling now:
Licensing and Credentials in California
Teaching in a public school requires state certification, and the degree alone is not the license. Certification requirements, examinations and background checks are set state by state and change; special education adds its own endorsement in most states.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state education agency for current certification requirements that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 117 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
📍
San Luis Obispo, CA
•81.5 miles away•BOC Score
89.2
What Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Earn in California
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in California earn a median $97,170 per year, above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Special Education Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$97,170
$65,120
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$63,180
$49,350
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$76,700
$59,710
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$108,320
$80,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$123,590
$103,010
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
23,280
260,870
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.76
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
-1.8%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $97,170 sits above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.76 puts California below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Special education positions exist in every district, and shortage-driven demand is broad rather than metro-concentrated - which favors candidates willing to work outside the largest markets.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
6,410
$96,970
$93,880
$62,800
$123,430
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
3,440
$105,290
$100,660
$74,560
$123,590
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
3,140
$91,840
$90,900
$63,390
$123,370
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
1,970
$97,860
$91,530
$60,130
$121,140
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
1,700
$98,330
$90,030
$62,010
$113,630
Bakersfield-Delano
800
$75,250
$77,980
$61,380
$103,620
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
790
$98,640
$102,260
$68,220
$132,290
Fresno
700
$95,950
$95,540
$63,840
$140,260
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
490
$104,810
$101,530
$65,750
$130,020
Stockton-Lodi
400
$79,760
$86,550
$58,520
$112,790
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
300
$98,940
$99,170
$69,850
$120,530
Modesto
270
$80,570
$88,070
$64,350
$118,530
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
250
$81,910
$89,540
$66,570
$125,440
Vallejo
210
$98,260
$95,460
$63,910
$124,730
El Centro
180
$99,020
$110,170
$62,290
$178,860
Redding
170
$92,820
$86,500
$60,110
$110,170
Chico
160
$91,510
$87,290
$62,240
$114,200
Merced
160
$97,340
$91,780
$61,600
$123,710
Hanford-Corcoran
150
$81,750
$88,100
$63,190
$118,200
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
130
$97,260
$90,510
$61,640
$117,650
Yuba City
130
$94,260
$89,460
$60,490
$118,110
Napa
60
$92,970
$91,010
$62,040
$124,200
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in California?
The median annual wage for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in California is $97,170, above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $76,700 at the 25th percentile to $108,320 at the 75th.
How many special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school work in California?
California holds about 23,280 special education teacher jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 260,870, and BLS projects about 15,400 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a special education teacher in California?
Teaching in a public school requires state certification, and the degree alone is not the license. Certification requirements, examinations and background checks are set state by state and change; special education adds its own endorsement in most states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state education agency for current certification requirements before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a special education bachelor's or master's online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state education agency for current certification requirements.
What is the highest-paying area of California for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Francisco reports the highest median at $105,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
On pay, the state median of $97,170 sits above the national $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.76 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (SOC 25-2052), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
