High school teacher pay in San Diego, CA
High school teachers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a typical $102,810 a year. The middle half earn $78,920 to $124,670, and the top 10% earn more than $221,870. About 6,690 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 | $66,660 |
| 25th percentile | $78,920 |
| Median (typical) | $102,810 |
| 75th percentile | $124,670 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $221,870 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 4 of 50 large metros for high school teachers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $102,810, a single filer keeps about $75,800 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Diego are 12% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $67,800 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Diego No. 8 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 San Diego. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.)
Common questions
How much does a high school teacher make in San Diego, CA?
The typical (median) high school teacher in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earns $102,810 a year. The middle half earn between $78,920 and $124,670, and the top 10% earn more than $221,870. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a high school teacher in San Diego?
Anything above $102,810 pays more than half of high school teachers in San Diego. $124,670 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $221,870 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a high school teacher in San Diego take home after taxes?
At the typical $102,810, a single filer keeps about $75,800 a year ($6,320 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 12% above the US average, that buys what $67,800 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. San Diego, CA ranks No. 8.
More: High school teacher pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Diego, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.