Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Francisco

Written by:
August 29, 2022
B Brown // Shutterstock

Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Francisco

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 Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, 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.

#51. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $42,820
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,780

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)

#50. Preschool teachers, except special education

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $44,290
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,660

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)

#49. Tutors

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $46,330
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,660

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)

#48. Substitute teachers, short-term

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $47,740
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,370

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)

#47. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $49,960
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,720

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)

#46. Library technicians

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $59,950
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

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. Self-enrichment teachers

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $60,020
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,450

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)

#44. Museum technicians and conservators

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $63,920
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#43. Archivists

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $66,380
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#42. Special education teachers, preschool

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $72,370
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,970
- Employment: 21,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($101,190)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,010)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($97,900)

#41. Instructional coordinators

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,370
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,850

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)

#40. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $81,890
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $85,490
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750

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)

#38. Elementary school teachers, except special education

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $86,920
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,890

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)

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,740
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870

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)

#36. Librarians and media collections specialists

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,990
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580

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)

#35. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $91,800
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

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)

#34. Education teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

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)

#33. Curators

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $94,020
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $94,450
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,710

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)

#31. Special education teachers, secondary school

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $95,580
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

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)

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $107,280
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,100

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)

#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $108,630
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $115,150
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

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)

#27. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $117,200
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#26. Special education teachers, middle school

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $117,940
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#25. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $121,590
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#24. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $122,160
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#23. Geography teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $122,200
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- Employment: 3,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,120)

#22. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $122,270
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810

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)

#21. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $122,450
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

#20. Communications teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $124,320
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#19. History teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $126,560
- #3 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)

#18. Business teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $127,070
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

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)

#17. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $129,190
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#16. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $130,320
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#15. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $130,530
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#14. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $132,020
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- Employment: 13,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)

#13. Political science teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $135,100
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $135,900
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#11. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $136,070
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100

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)

#10. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $136,870
- #2 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)

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $137,790
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $139,870
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#7. Physics teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $140,840
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $142,330
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $142,810
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440

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)

#4. Architecture teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $144,550
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,600
- Employment: 5,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,550)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($142,180)

#3. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $145,170
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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)

#2. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $153,050
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#1. Economics teachers, postsecondary

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Annual mean salary: $161,620
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

Trending Now