High school teacher pay in Los Angeles, CA
High school teachers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a typical $100,960 a year. The middle half earn $81,430 to $126,650, and the top 10% earn more than $133,850. About 32,250 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, SOC 25-2031).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $67,190 |
| 25th percentile | $81,430 |
| Median (typical) | $100,960 |
| 75th percentile | $126,650 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $133,850 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 6 of 50 large metros for high school teachers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $100,960, a single filer keeps about $74,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in Los Angeles are 14% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $65,800 would in a typical US city. That ranks Los Angeles No. 9 of 50 large metros for high school teachers after cost of living.
Where high school teachers’ pay goes furthest
- Seattle, WA$102,670 typical · worth $73k
- Sacramento, CA$105,060 typical · worth $72.4k
- San Jose, CA$108,230 typical · worth $71.7k
- Chicago, IL$98,970 typical · worth $71.1k
All 50 metros for high school teachers →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among high school teachers in Los Angeles. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.)
Common questions
How much does a high school teacher make in Los Angeles, CA?
The typical (median) high school teacher in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earns $100,960 a year. The middle half earn between $81,430 and $126,650, and the top 10% earn more than $133,850. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a high school teacher in Los Angeles?
Anything above $100,960 pays more than half of high school teachers in Los Angeles. $126,650 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $133,850 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a high school teacher in Los Angeles take home after taxes?
At the typical $100,960, a single filer keeps about $74,700 a year ($6,220 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 14% above the US average, that buys what $65,800 would in a typical US city.
Where do high school teachers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical high school teacher pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA. Los Angeles, CA ranks No. 9.
More: High school teacher pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.