Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Diego

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August 29, 2022
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Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Diego

Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it's fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there's room to specialize and pursue your passion.

Historically, teachers' pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Diego-Carlsbad, CA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.

#49. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $37,050
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,230

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)

#48. Tutors

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $37,530
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,470

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,780
- Employment: 147,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)

#47. Preschool teachers, except special education

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $38,020
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

#46. Library technicians

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $43,070
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,070
- Employment: 73,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
--- Napa, CA ($57,890)

#45. Substitute teachers, short-term

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $43,750
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)

#44. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $46,810
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)

#43. Museum technicians and conservators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $50,030
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 10,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)

#42. Self-enrichment teachers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $51,500
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,730

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 216,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)

#41. Archivists

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $54,040
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 6,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)

#40. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $70,980
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,490
- Employment: 120,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
--- Kingston, NY ($92,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,490)

#39. Instructional coordinators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,560
- Employment: 184,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($93,890)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)

#38. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,870
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)

#37. Librarians and media collections specialists

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $76,640
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,180
- Employment: 127,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)

#36. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,360
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- Employment: 38,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)

#34 (tie). Elementary school teachers, except special education

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,680
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)

#34 (tie). Curators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,680
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,880
- Employment: 11,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)

#33. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $79,330
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 105,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)

#32. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $84,380
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,960
- Employment: 84,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)

#31. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,530
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,330

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)

#30. Special education teachers, middle school

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $90,840
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 79,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)

#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $92,880
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,040
- Employment: 68,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)

#28. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $93,110
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)

#27. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $109,430
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- Employment: 20,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)

#26. Special education teachers, secondary school

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $110,320
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,100
- Employment: 145,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)

#25. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $110,410
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,390
- Employment: 36,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
--- Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)

#24. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $110,720
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,110
- Employment: 5,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)

#23. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $114,370
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,680
- Employment: 58,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)

#22. History teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $114,870
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- Employment: 18,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)

#21. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $118,000
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,850
- Employment: 12,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)

#20. Education teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $119,140
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,990
- Employment: 58,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)

#19. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $119,510
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680
- Employment: 9,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)

#18. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $120,840
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,210
- Employment: 5,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($133,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($126,820)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($120,840)

#17. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $121,490
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- Employment: 13,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)

#16. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $124,080
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- Employment: 19,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)

#15. Communications teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $124,310
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)

#14. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $125,880
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)

#13. Political science teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $128,760
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)

#12. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $131,120
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,060
- Employment: 20,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)

#11. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $133,010
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)

#10. Law teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $139,520
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $130,820
- Employment: 14,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($165,990)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($152,750)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($152,190)

#9. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $140,800
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- Employment: 2,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)

#8. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $141,580
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)

#7. Physics teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $144,580
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)

#6. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $145,000
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)

#5. Business teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $146,590
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#4. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $147,770
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)

#3. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $150,240
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)

#2. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $176,220
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960

National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

#1. Economics teachers, postsecondary

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $180,490
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)

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