Being a teacher can give you the opportunity to inspire the next generation in your area. As you select where to pursue your teaching career, you may want to consider locations in California. Understanding what areas tend to pay teachers more in this West Coast state can help you when deciding where you want to find this type of job. In this article, we discuss what makes a city a high-paying location in California for teachers list some of the top high-paying locations in California for teacher jobs, and share 10 high-paying types of teaching jobs to consider.
Study Smarter
What makes a city a high-paying location in California for teachers?
There are several factors that help determine whether a location in California pays teachers a high salary. One of the main factors is the cost of living in a location. Certain cities cost more to live in, causing the employer to pay more to their employees to help compensate for the additional costs of goods, services, and rent or home ownership.
Another factor influencing how much a teacher makes in California is whether the location has a high demand for teachers. Locations where employers actively seek teachers tend to have higher salaries. High salaries may also help appeal to keeping long-term teachers which can lead to greater success in a student’s academic achievement.
4 high-paying locations in California for teacher jobs
The following are some high-paying locations in California for teacher jobs. For the most up-to-date salaries, please click on the links below:
1. Beverly Hills, California
Average base salary: $65,523 per year
Due to its proximity to Hollywood, Beverly Hills is home to several celebrities. A teaching job in this location tends to pay higher than other areas in California since the cost of living is a lot higher. Many employers offer high salaries to retain experienced teachers and attract new ones.
2. Oakland, California
Average base salary: $66,931 per year
Oakland is a major West Coast port and trade center. Situated on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, the city represents almost every ethnic group. Like many other cities in California, Oakland has high rent and cost of living, which leads to a higher average salary for teachers.
3. Daly City, California
Average base salary: $71,720 per year
Daly City is a coastal community in the northern corner of San Mateo County. While this location offers a more affordable alternative to living in San Francisco, the cost of living is still over 60% higher than the national average. Daly City typically offers higher teacher salaries than other areas in California to help compensate for the high living expenses.
4. Menlo Park, California
Average base salary: $76,707 per year
Known as the “Capital of Venture Capital,” Menlo Park quickly grew after the introduction of a new railroad in 1863. Today it encompasses parts of the Stanford University Campus and consists of many high-tech employees. This location offers teachers high salaries to help retain experienced teachers.
Additional locations in California that pay teachers close to $60k
Here are some more locations in California that pay teacher positions close to $60,000 a year:
1. Bakersfield, California
Average base salary: $52,531 per year
Often referred to as the “country music capital of the West Coast” due to being the home to several country music singers, Bakersfield provides high salaries to teachers. This location is north of Los Angeles on the Kern River. With the recent shortage of teachers, Bakersfield school districts have raised the premium for substitute teachers.
2. Palo Alto, California
Average base salary: $54,332 per year
Known as the birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is another high-paying location for teachers. In 2016, the city passed a new contract that allowed 70 percent of its teachers to earn over $100,000 a year. They offered a raise to teachers based on their experience and the number of educational credits earned after receiving a bachelor’s degree.
3. San Mateo, California
Average base salary: $54,569 per year
San Mateo is a popular city for teachers, particularly high school teachers since many employers hire here. Close to San Francisco and San Jose, this location consists of over 20 schools. Employers in this location tend to pay teachers based on their experience. While the salary here may be higher than in other locations, teachers may find it challenging to find affordable housing this close to the Bay Area.
READ ALSO: TOP 30 ONLINE FIRE SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS
4. Richmond, California
Average base salary: $58,758 per year
Richmond was one of the most productive wartime shipbuilding operations during World War II. Today, it consists of industrial, commercial, oil refining, shipping, and transportation industries. This coastal city is on the northern California coast near the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past couple of years, Richmond has continued to raise teacher salaries, making it the highest-paid location in Contra Costa.
5. Mountain View, California
Average base salary: $59,231 per year
Named after the sight visitors can see of Santa Cruz Mountains, Mountain View has a mixture of public and private schools. During the rise of Silicon Valley, Mountain View was a prominent location for many high-technology companies. This location offers a high salary for teacher jobs since it tends to attract more experienced teachers. In recent years, the city proposed a citizen-supported parcel tax to lower the average class size, making the student-to-teacher ratio 20.4 to one. This change could increase the amount of teachers needed in Mountain View and lead to an increased teacher salary.
10 High-Paying Types of Teaching Jobs in California
Here are some high-paying types of teaching jobs in California to consider pursuing:
-
English as a second language teacher: $61,140 per year
-
Science teacher: $63,921 per year
-
Social studies teacher: $67,509 per year
-
Professor: $68,308 per year
-
Music teacher: $68,813 per year
-
Special education teacher: $70,373 per year
-
Assistant professor: $70,964 per year
-
Elementary school teacher: $72,509 per year
-
Guest lecturer: $85,42 per year
-
Adjunct instructor: $142,741 per year
I hope you find this article helpful.
Leave a Reply