SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 25-2021 · California · Updated 2026

Elementary School Teacher Salary in San Francisco, CA

Elementary School Teachers in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $65,000/year, ranging from $50,050 (25th percentile) to $104,000 (90th percentile). After California state taxes (9.3%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 186), this is equivalent to $34,946 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$65,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$50,050
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$83,200
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$104,000
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in San Francisco, CA

P25
P75
P25
$50,050
Median
$65,000
P75
$83,200
P90
$104,000

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$65,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$54,474
After 9.3% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$29,287
vs US average (COL index: 186)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does San Francisco, CA Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
San Francisco, CA (current)$65,000186$34,946
Los Angeles, CA$56,000173$32,370
San Diego, CA$54,000152$35,526
New York, NY$62,000187$33,155
Seattle, WA$63,000162$38,889
Boston, MA$57,000162$35,185

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Elementary School Teacher salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median Elementary School Teacher salary in San Francisco, CA is $65,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $50,050 and the 90th percentile is $104,000.

Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a Elementary School Teacher?

San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $65,000 Elementary School Teacher salary in San Francisco, CA is equivalent to $34,946 in purchasing power compared to the US average.

What is the cost of living adjustment for San Francisco, CA?

San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186, meaning it is 86% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in California is approximately 9.3%.

What is the Elementary School Teacher salary range in San Francisco, CA?

In San Francisco, CA, Elementary School Teachers earn between $50,050 (25th percentile) and $104,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,000 per year.

How many Elementary School Teacher jobs are there in San Francisco, CA?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 130,000 Elementary School Teacher positions in the San Francisco, CA metropolitan area.

What do Elementary School Teachers earn in San Francisco, CA?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Elementary School Teachers in San Francisco, CA earn a median annual wage of $65,000. The middle 50% earn between $50,050 and $83,200. The top 10% earn more than $104,000. There are approximately 130,000 Elementary School Teachers employed in the San Francisco, CA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.3%.

Is San Francisco, CA a good place for a Elementary School Teacher?

San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186 (US average = 100), making it 86% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Elementary School Teacher in San Francisco, CA earning $65,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $34,946 relative to the US median. California has a state income tax rate of approximately 9.3%.

What is the cost of living adjustment for San Francisco, CA?

San Francisco, CA's cost of living index is 186, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $65,000 in San Francisco, CAhas the same purchasing power as $34,946 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.

Compare San Francisco, CA with Another City

See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.