Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $211,540 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, secondary school in San Diego earn between $82,000 and $131,900.
- $78K10th
- $82K25th
- $115KMedian
- $132K75th
- $212K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,230 | $10,102 | — |
| Median | $115,160 | $9,597 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,000 | $6,833 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,900 | $10,992 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Special education teachers, secondary school in San Diego earn 18% more than the California average ($102,780) and 57% more than the U.S. average ($77,260). At the median the gap is +55% against the U.S. median of $74,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $121,230 | $115,160 | $78,240 | $211,540 | 1,220 |
| California | $102,780 | $101,060 | $63,390 | $131,600 | 12,100 |
| United States | $77,260 | $74,260 | $49,800 | $109,100 | 163,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $121,230, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $86,933 a year, or $7,244 a month and $3,344 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for special education teachers, secondary school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $121,230 buys what about $108,350 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 1st of 19 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Diego$121,230
- San Jose$110,740
- San Francisco$106,980
- Riverside$105,440
- Oxnard$104,450
- Los Angeles$100,710
- Fresno$100,150
- Modesto$97,500
- Sacramento$96,740
- Santa Rosa$96,630
All Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school
San Diego, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,230).
- San Diego, CA$121,230
- San Jose, CA$110,740
- San Francisco, CA$106,980
- Mount Vernon, WA$105,910
- Riverside, CA$105,440
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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in San Diego: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, secondary school salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, secondary school take-home pay in San Diego?
About $86,933 a year ($7,244 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,230. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do special education teachers, secondary school earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 57% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2058; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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