SOC 25-2058 · El Centro, CA metro

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in El Centro, CA

The average salary for special education teachers, secondary school in El Centro, California is $91,860 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $97,000: half of the 90 people in this job in the El Centro, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,260).

$91,860average per year

Median $97,000Take-home ≈ $69,003

  • $62K10th
  • $75K25th
  • $97KMedian
  • $99K75th
  • $120K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

90people in this job
+19%vs U.S. average
#17 of 19California metros
95cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay range in El Centro

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,280 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, secondary school in El Centro earn between $74,970 and $99,320.

  • $62K10th
  • $75K25th
  • $97KMedian
  • $99K75th
  • $120K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$91,860$7,655—
Median$97,000$8,083—
Entry level (25th percentile)$74,970$6,248—
Experienced (75th percentile)$99,320$8,277—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in El Centro vs. California and the U.S.

Special education teachers, secondary school in El Centro earn 11% less than the California average ($102,780) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($77,260). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $74,260.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
El Centro$91,860$97,000$61,610$120,28090
California$102,780$101,060$63,390$131,60012,100
United States$77,260$74,260$49,800$109,100163,930

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary after taxes in El Centro

On the average salary of $91,860, a single filer in El Centro takes home about $69,003 a year, or $5,750 a month and $2,654 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is El Centro a good place for special education teachers, secondary school? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the El Centro area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.2), so the average $91,860 buys what about $96,518 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in El Centro ($45,140). A typical home costs $379,330, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $91,860 is worth in another city

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in other California cities

El Centro ranks 17th of 19 California metro areas for this job; San Diego pays the most ($121,230).

All Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school

San Diego, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,230).

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by city

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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in El Centro: questions

What is the entry-level special education teachers, secondary school salary in El Centro?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,970, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the special education teachers, secondary school take-home pay in El Centro?

About $69,003 a year ($5,750 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,860. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do special education teachers, secondary school earn more in El Centro than elsewhere?

The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,260).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2058; area El Centro, CA (20940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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