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Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Jose
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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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.
#23. Preschool teachers, except special education
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $44,050
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,390
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)
- Annual mean salary: $44,050
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,390
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)
#22. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $45,080
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,720
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)
- Annual mean salary: $45,080
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,720
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)
#21. Substitute teachers, short-term
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $47,580
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,190
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)
- Annual mean salary: $47,580
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,190
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)
#20. Tutors
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $50,060
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,340
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)
- Annual mean salary: $50,060
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,340
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)
#19. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)
#18. Library technicians
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $53,800
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
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)
- Annual mean salary: $53,800
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
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)
#17. Self-enrichment teachers
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $61,030
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,390
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)
- Annual mean salary: $61,030
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,390
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)
#16. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,660
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990
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)
- Annual mean salary: $78,660
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990
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)
#15. Special education teachers, middle school
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $84,660
- #17 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)
- Annual mean salary: $84,660
- #17 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)
#14. Curators
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $86,680
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
- Annual mean salary: $86,680
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#13. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $87,410
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
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)
- Annual mean salary: $87,410
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
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)
#12. Instructional coordinators
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $87,730
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
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)
- Annual mean salary: $87,730
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
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)
#11. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $87,870
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
- Annual mean salary: $87,870
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
#10. Librarians and media collections specialists
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $88,540
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
- Annual mean salary: $88,540
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
#9. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,830
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,270
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)
- Annual mean salary: $89,830
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,270
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)
#8. Elementary school teachers, except special education
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $90,830
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,990
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)
- Annual mean salary: $90,830
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,990
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)
#7. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)
#6. Special education teachers, secondary school
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,480
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
- Annual mean salary: $102,480
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
#5. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $104,010
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,030
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)
- Annual mean salary: $104,010
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,030
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)
#4. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $109,490
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
- Annual mean salary: $109,490
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
#3. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $121,490
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
- Annual mean salary: $121,490
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
#2. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $129,250
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
- Annual mean salary: $129,250
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#1. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Annual mean salary: $180,910
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
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)
- Annual mean salary: $180,910
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
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)
