California teacher pay depends almost entirely on your district. Among the six large districts below, starting pay for a credentialed teacher with a bachelor's degree ranges from $59,221 in Elk Grove Unified to $83,278 in San Francisco Unified, and the top of the schedule ranges from $110,897.58 in Fresno Unified to $138,338 in San Jose Unified. Every figure comes from the district's own published salary schedule, linked below, and most are for the 2026-27 school year.
If you want the full explanation of how California salary schedules work, including lanes, steps and what a lane change is worth, start with our California teacher salary schedule guide. This page focuses on the district-by-district numbers.
California Teacher Salary by District: 2026-27 Comparison
The table shows each district's base salary for a fully credentialed classroom teacher. Starting pay is the bachelor's-degree column at step 1; top pay is the highest step in the highest column, before separate career-increment payments or stipends. Work years differ by district (183 to 186 days), so compare annual totals with that in mind.
| District | Starting salary (BA, step 1) | Top of schedule | Structure | Schedule year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno Unified | $69,250.83 | $110,897.58 | 4 classes, 10 levels, 185 days | 2026-27 |
| Elk Grove Unified | $59,221 | $119,878 | 8 classes, 22 steps | 2026-27 |
| Sacramento City Unified | $65,510 | $137,840 | 5 classes, 20 steps, 184 days | 2026-27 |
| San Jose Unified | $72,051 | $138,338 | 1 column, 35 steps, 183 days | 2025-26 |
| Long Beach Unified | $74,069 | $129,099 | 5 columns, 16 steps, 184 days | 2026-27 |
| San Francisco Unified | $83,278* | $137,945* | 3 lanes, steps 1-13 plus career increments to year 28, 186 days | 2026-27 |
*San Francisco figures are total annual salary, which includes the district's QTEA and FWEA add-ons on top of base pay; its career increments are built into the steps, so its top figure is the step 26 to 28 rate. San Jose's newest posted schedule is for 2025-26, so its figures are a year older than the others. Salary schedules checked October 2026.
How Lanes and Steps Work
Almost every California district pays teachers on a grid. You move down a step for each year of service, and across a lane (also called a column or class) when you complete more college units or a degree. The lane is the part you control, which is why the unit rules in each district section below matter. Our California salary schedule guide covers lanes, steps and lane-change math in detail.
Fresno Unified Teacher Salary Schedule
Fresno Unified's 2026-27 teacher schedule, board-approved June 17, 2026, has four classes based on units beyond the bachelor's degree, from Class I (BA + 30 to 44 units) to Class IV (BA + 75 to 90 units). Teachers move through up to 10 levels, with fewer levels in the lower classes.
- Starting pay: $69,250.83 (Class I, level 1, 185 duty days)
- Top of schedule: $110,897.58 (Class IV, level 10)
- Career increments: 1.6% a year from year 11 to year 15, reaching 8% ($119,769.39 at Class IV, level 10), plus $5,000 at 21 to 25 years and $10,000 at 26 or more years
- Additions: $1,000 a year for a master's degree, $1,500 for a doctorate, $1,250 for National Board Certification (non-cumulative)
Units earned beyond the bachelor's degree must be upper division or graduate courses. Fresno's separate professional learning column (Class V) is closed to new members, and its contract language is eliminated effective July 1, 2026. Fresno Unified 2026-27 teacher salary schedules
Elk Grove Unified Teacher Salary Schedule
Elk Grove Unified's 2026-27 certificated schedule #10, board-approved June 23, 2026, has eight classes, A through H, and 22 steps. It has more lanes than any other district on this page, so units add up in smaller increments.
- Starting pay: $59,221 (Class A, step 1)
- Top of schedule: $119,878 (Class H, step 22)
- Doctoral bonus: 7% of the beginning step (A1)
Class placement is based on semester units from regionally accredited colleges on official transcripts, with quarter units counting as two-thirds of a semester unit. The top two classes have extra rules: Class G requires 15 semester units of "G approved" coursework earned after you're hired, and Class H requires 5 approved units and must be renewed every 10 years. Check what counts as approved coursework with the district before enrolling. Elk Grove Unified 2026-27 certificated salary schedule
Free Tool
See Your California Salary Roadmap
Every district's lanes are different. See a personalized roadmap of how many units stand between you and your next lane, and what that lane pays in your district.
Sacramento City Unified Teacher Salary Schedule
Sacramento City Unified's 2026-27 schedule for fully credentialed K-12 teachers has five classes and 20 steps, based on 184 service days. Each class above Class A can be reached either with units alone or with a master's degree plus fewer units.
- Starting pay: $65,510 (Class A, step 1)
- Top of schedule: $137,840 (Class E, step 20)
- Doctorate: an additional $3,000 a year
The classes are: Class B, BA + 45 units or a master's degree; Class C, BA + 60 units or MA + 12; Class D, BA + 75 units or MA + 24; and Class E, BA + 90 units or MA + 39. The 2026-27 schedule includes a 2% increase effective July 1, 2026. Sacramento City Unified 2026-27 SCTA salary schedule
San Jose Unified Teacher Salary Schedule
San Jose Unified works differently from every other district on this page: its teacher schedule (B-1) has a single column and 35 steps, so pay rises with years of service, not with units. The newest schedule the district has posted is for 2025-26, effective August 1, 2025, based on 183 days.
- Starting pay: $72,051 (step 1)
- Top of schedule: $138,338 (step 35)
- Stipends: $3,000 each for a master's degree, doctorate, National Board Certification, bilingual assignment or special education (maximum of one per category)
Because there are no unit-based lanes, extra graduate units on their own don't raise base pay in San Jose Unified. A completed master's degree is worth the $3,000 stipend. San Jose Unified 2025-26 certificated salary schedule
Long Beach Unified Teacher Salary Schedule
Long Beach Unified's 2026-27 Schedule A4, for teachers holding a valid California credential on the traditional 184-day calendar, was board-approved June 17, 2026. It has five columns and 16 steps, A through P.
- Starting pay: $74,069 (bachelor's degree or less, step A)
- Top of schedule: $129,099 (top column, step P)
- Career increments: $3,569.93 a year from the 20th year, $6,425.86 from the 25th and $9,995.80 from the 30th, bringing the top column to $139,095 in the 30th year
- Doctoral stipend: $2,855.94 a year
The columns are: bachelor's degree or less; BA + 28 units; BA + 56 units or a master's degree; master's plus BA + 56 units or MA + 28; and master's plus BA + 75 units or MA + 45. Long Beach Unified salary schedules
San Francisco Unified Teacher Salary Schedule
San Francisco Unified pays fully credentialed K-12 teachers on three lanes set by units beyond the bachelor's degree, under its 2025-2027 contract with UESF. Total pay includes two local add-ons funded by San Francisco parcel taxes, QTEA and FWEA, on top of base salary.
- Starting pay: $83,278 total annual (BA + fewer than 30 units, step 1, 2026-27, 186 days)
- Top of schedule: $137,945 total annual (BA + 60 or more units, career increment E, steps 26 to 28)
- Lanes: BA + fewer than 30 units; BA + 30 to 59 units; BA + 60 or more units
The highest lane continues past step 13 through five career increments that cover steps 14 to 28. SFUSD publishes a pre-approval form for credits toward a salary classification change, which is worth using before you enroll. San Francisco Unified UESF certificated salary schedules
Pro-Tip: Each district sets its own rules for which units move you across a lane, from Fresno's upper-division-or-graduate requirement to Elk Grove's approved coursework for its top classes. Confirm with your district's HR office that a course will count before you enroll.
San Diego Unified and Oakland Unified aren't included yet because we couldn't confirm a current published teacher salary schedule for either. We'll add them once we can verify the figures from the district's own schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest paying school districts in California for teachers?
Among the six districts on this page, San Francisco Unified has the highest starting pay at $83,278 in total annual salary. San Jose Unified ($138,338, 2025-26), San Francisco Unified ($137,945) and Sacramento City Unified ($137,840) have the highest top-of-schedule pay. This compares only the districts covered here; California has roughly 1,000 districts, and many smaller ones are not included.
Do California districts pay more for a master's degree?
Most do, but in different ways. Fresno Unified adds $1,000 a year and San Jose Unified pays a $3,000 stipend, while Sacramento City and Long Beach Unified use a master's degree as one route into a higher-paying column.
Do graduate units always raise a teacher's salary?
Not everywhere. In districts with unit-based lanes, such as Elk Grove, Sacramento City and Long Beach Unified, units move you into higher-paying columns. San Jose Unified has a single-column schedule, so units alone don't change base pay there.
How often do California teacher salary schedules change?
Districts usually adopt a new schedule each school year after bargaining with their teachers' union, and raises are often applied from July 1. Always check your district's current schedule before planning a lane change.
The Bottom Line
Where you teach in California shapes your pay more than almost anything else, and the lane rules differ as much as the dollar figures. Use the table above to compare districts, check your own district's unit requirements, and see our California teaching credential guide for how credentials and salary advancement fit together. If you're looking for coursework, our list of the best online courses for California teachers explains what to verify before you enroll.
Graduate Courses for California Teachers
Plan Your Next Lane Change
Browse self-paced, graduate-level courses from regionally accredited university partners. Check your district's unit rules first, then pick the courses that fit your plan.