Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $117,200 +88.5% vs national
Median hourly —
10th percentile $54,530
90th percentile $117,200
Employed locally 240
National median $62,190

Compare Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $54,530
    25th
    $59,710
    50th (median)
    $117,200
    75th
    $117,200
    90th
    $117,200

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary vs area income 115% Median Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary is 15% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Special Education Teachers, Preschool

    Metro areaMedian salary
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $132,930
    New York $129,860
    Akron, OH $100,650
    New Jersey $86,650
    Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $86,340
    McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $85,200

    Nearby metros — Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $85,200
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $82,890
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $82,760
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $78,630
    Vallejo, CA $75,140
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $66,060

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $78,430
    Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary $43,010
    Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $55,740
    Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $99,740
    Self-Enrichment Teachers $46,520
    Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education $45,370

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in San Diego, CA is —, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make — or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Special Education Teachers, Preschool salaries?

    The median Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary in San Diego, CA is 88.5% above the national median of $62,190. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in San Diego?

    Entry-level Special Education Teachers, Preschool (10th percentile) earn around $54,530 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $59,710.