Salaries › Middle School Teacher › California
Middle School Teacher Salary in California (2026)
— per hour · take-home ≈ $73,316/year ($6,110/month) for a single filer
Middle School Teacher pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $62,410 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $76,270 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $98,950 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $111,610 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $129,500 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 37,300 Middle School Teacher jobs in California (occupation code 25-2022, “Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Middle School Teacher salary of $98,950 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $73,316 — an effective tax rate of 25.9%.
| Gross (median) | $98,950 |
| Federal income tax | −$12,939 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$7,570 |
| California state income tax | −$5,126 |
| Take-home (annual) | $73,316 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,110 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Middle School Teacher make in California?
- The median Middle School Teacher salary in California is $98,950 per year (— per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $76,270 and $111,610.
- What is the take-home pay for a Middle School Teacher in California?
- On the median salary of $98,950, a single filer in California takes home about $73,316 per year ($6,110 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 25.9%.
- How many Middle School Teacher jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 37,300 Middle School Teacher jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Middle School Teachers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.