Special Education Degree Programs in Vallejo, CA (2026)

Quick answer: The Vallejo metro employs about 210 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Compare special education programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.

See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.

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 8 schools within 213 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 8 of them carry a score.

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 213.2 miles away BOC Score 89.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 85.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 272
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $90,662 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA 57.1 miles away BOC Score 86.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 66.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 719
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $89,614 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA 53.7 miles away BOC Score 81.7
Tuition $8,018 - $22,945
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 94.0%
  • Graduation rate: 56.1%
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 875
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,511 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA 33.0 miles away BOC Score 79.2
Tuition $7,583 - $22,850
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 97.4%
  • Graduation rate: 46.7%
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 307
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $72,596 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA 30.1 miles away BOC Score 78.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 50.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 511
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,804 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA 163.6 miles away BOC Score 78.5
Tuition $7,350 - $20,095
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 95.3%
  • Graduation rate: 55.9%
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 337
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,992 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA 20.1 miles away BOC Score 72.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 69.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 21
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $74,325 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA 26.0 miles away BOC Score 70.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 70.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 317
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $91,483 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Earn in Vallejo

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Vallejo area earn a median $98,260 per year, above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Special Education Pay in Vallejo, CA

MetricVallejo metroCaliforniaNational
Median annual wage$98,260$97,170$65,120
10th percentile$63,910$63,180$49,350
25th percentile$73,820$76,700$59,710
75th percentile$112,860$108,320$80,280
90th percentile$124,730$123,590$103,010
Employment21023,280260,870
Location quotient0.88-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Vallejo, CA metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Vallejo median of $98,260 is above the national median of $65,120, and above the California statewide median of $97,170 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.88 means special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

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.

Other California Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Los Angeles$96,9706,410
San Francisco$105,2903,440
Riverside$91,8403,140
San Diego$97,8601,970
Sacramento$98,3301,700
Bakersfield$75,250800
San Jose$98,640790
Fresno$95,950700

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


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 Vallejo?

The median annual wage for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the Vallejo, CA metro area is $98,260, above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school work in the Vallejo area?

The Vallejo, CA metro area employs about 210 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Vallejo need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Can I study special education online from Vallejo?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Is Vallejo a better market than the rest of California?

The Vallejo metro median is $98,260 against a statewide median of $97,170 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • 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/.