California·Educational Instruction and Library Occupations·SOC 25-1081

Best Education Teacher, Postsecondary programs in California, ranked by enrollment

Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language.

148 schools in California run programs that feed this job, graduating 16,315 people a year. The job pays a median of $111,850 in California across about 3,100 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledProfessorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorEducation ProfessorEducatorLecturerInstructorFaculty Member
Graduates / yr
16,315
in California
Median pay · California
$111,850
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
3,100
people employed
Schools
148
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
52%
across those schools
Median net price
$26,609
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in California that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

38 programs in California that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in California (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own California page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
15,535
33.9%
63$37,953$25,000
23,190
19.6%
30$41,127$25,500
31,819
11.1%
58$44,139$26,675
41,414
8.7%
21$41,127$25,500
51,010
6.2%
16$41,127$25,500
6758
4.6%
14$41,127$25,500
7491
3.0%
8$33,915$17,000
8416
2.5%
18$45,004$27,000
9
Education, Othermain feeder
371
2.3%
16$34,646$25,855
10240
1.5%
2$43,033$26,044
11163
1.0%
5$43,033$26,044
12142
0.9%
6$43,033$26,044
1382
0.5%
4$43,033$26,044
1474
0.5%
4$33,086$26,000
1570
0.4%
3$33,086$26,000
1668
0.4%
8$43,033$26,044
1755
0.3%
3$43,033$26,044
1855
0.3%
8$43,033$26,044
1953
0.3%
1$33,086$26,000
2044
0.3%
6$56,738$19,664
2144
0.3%
2$43,033$26,044
2241
0.3%
3$43,033$26,044
2338
0.2%
3$44,139$26,675
2434
0.2%
1$41,127$25,500
2525
0.2%
5$43,033$26,044
2623
0.1%
3$56,738$19,664
2712
0.1%
4$43,033$26,044
287
0.0%
1$44,139$26,675
297
0.0%
3$43,033$26,044
307
0.0%
1$43,033$26,044
316
0.0%
1$41,127$25,500
325
0.0%
1$33,086$26,000
334
0.0%
2$44,139$26,675
344
0.0%
1$43,033$26,044
353
0.0%
1$44,139$26,675
362
0.0%
1$41,127$25,500
372
0.0%
1$43,033$26,044
381
0.0%
1$43,033$26,044

Top 25 schools in California

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 18 of the 148 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1National University
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs
1,319Education, General43%$31,817
2University of the People
Pasadena, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
744Secondary Education and Teaching34%
3California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA Public · 5 feeder programs
614Early Childhood Education and Teaching$28,93370%91%
4University of California - Irvine
Irvine, CA Public · 4 feeder programs
513Education, General$26,10687%29%
5Teachers College of San Joaquin
Stockton, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
502Education, General
6California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA Public · 8 feeder programs
487Early Childhood Education and Teaching57%93%
7University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, CA Public · 7 feeder programs
474Elementary Education and Teaching$36,78843%
8Northcentral University
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
457Education, General
9California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA Public · 3 feeder programs
443Early Childhood Education and Teaching56%94%
10San Diego State University
San Diego, CA Public · 5 feeder programs
415Education, General76%36%
11Alder Graduate School of Education
Redwood City, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
399Elementary Education and Teaching
12California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Public · 5 feeder programs
362Early Childhood Education and Teaching$31,36653%91%
13University of California - Riverside
Riverside, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
358Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education$23,44776%76%
14University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Public · 4 feeder programs
313Education, General93%9%
15California Baptist University
Riverside, CA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
290Education, General62%$26,94085%
16California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
288Early Childhood Education and Teaching$29,84043%93%
17Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
266Elementary Education and Teaching$33,72750%$14,29864%
18California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA Public · 2 feeder programs
262Education, General50%94%
19San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA Public · 4 feeder programs
255Early Childhood Education and Teaching$38,23750%96%
20California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Pomona, CA Public · 3 feeder programs
220Education, Other$31,25068%75%
21University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
220Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other92%$26,87310%
22Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
214Education, General77%$48,79584%
23University of La Verne
La Verne, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
196Education, General63%$45,46171%
24California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA Public · 6 feeder programs
190Education, General57%95%
25San Jose State University
San Jose, CA Public · 4 feeder programs
190Early Childhood Education and Teaching69%85%

All 148 schools in California

Every school in California with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in California that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
National UniversitySan DiegoPrivate not-for-profit1,3197
University of the PeoplePasadenaPrivate not-for-profit7443
California State University - FullertonFullertonPublic6145
University of California - IrvineIrvinePublic5134
Teachers College of San JoaquinStocktonPublic5021
California State University - NorthridgeNorthridgePublic4878
University of Massachusetts GlobalAliso ViejoPublic4747
Northcentral UniversitySan DiegoPrivate not-for-profit4573
California State University - SacramentoSacramentoPublic4433
San Diego State UniversitySan DiegoPublic4155
Alder Graduate School of EducationRedwood CityPrivate not-for-profit3993
California State University - Los AngelesLos AngelesPublic3625
University of California - RiversideRiversidePublic3582
University of California - Los AngelesLos AngelesPublic3134
California Baptist UniversityRiversidePrivate not-for-profit2906

What education teachers, postsecondary earn in California

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in California
$111,850
Mean annual
$113,870
Jobs in state
3,100
What the range looks like
10th pct$59,620Median$111,85090th pct$159,270
Versus the national median
+48.4%

U.S. median $75,350. California pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
0.44×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in California

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$121,520median
430 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$123,910median
240 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$129,100median
160 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$105,730median
1,330 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$92,720median
240 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$82,370median
80 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+2.1%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
5,600
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
1,600
74,900 → 76,500
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Education Teachers, Postsecondary page.

How to become a Education Teacher, Postsecondary

Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Work experience needed
Less than 5 years

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Top skills

SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningLearning StrategiesActive LearningWriting

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in California

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Education Teachers, Postsecondary25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 13.0101Education, General
  • 13.0201Bilingual and Multilingual Education
  • 13.0202Multicultural Education
  • 13.0203Indian/Native American Education
  • 13.0299Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other
  • 13.0301Curriculum and Instruction
  • 13.0601Educational Evaluation and Research
  • 13.0603Educational Statistics and Research Methods
  • 13.0604Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement
  • 13.0607Learning Sciences
  • 13.0699Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
  • 13.0901Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
  • 13.1005Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances
  • 13.1006Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
  • 13.1007Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities
  • 13.1008Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments
  • 13.1009Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness
  • 13.1011Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
  • 13.1012Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments
  • 13.1013Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism
  • 13.1014Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed
  • 13.1015Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
  • 13.1016Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • 13.1017Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs
  • 13.1018Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs

Common questions

Answers for people weighing education teachers, postsecondary programs in California.

What degree do you need to become an Education Teacher, Postsecondary?+

Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Education, General, which awarded 5,535 degrees in California in 2024-25, 33.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming an Education Teacher, Postsecondary?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 38 programs to this occupation. The largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Education, Special Education and Teaching, Teacher Education and Professional Development, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 16,315 people a year in California.

How much do education teachers, postsecondary earn in California?+

The median is $111,850 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 48.4% above the U.S. median of $75,350. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for education teachers, postsecondary growing?+

BLS projects a +2.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 5,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in California?+

148 institutions in California reported graduates from at least one of the 38 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do education teachers, postsecondary work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Education Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1081.

Education Teachers, Postsecondary in other statesUtahNew YorkArizonaTexasIndianaGeorgiaPennsylvaniaIllinois

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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