California has been consistently below the national average in per-pupil spending and in its teacher-pupil and staff-pupil ratios. In addition, the state is an expensive place to live, and this high cost of living has been reflected in teacher salaries as well as those of other staff.

Although the state spends less than the U.S. average on operating expenditures, national data show that California school districts use their operating funds in much the same way as is true nationally. At the same time, California's educators are responsible for considerably more students than their counterparts in most other states.

Per-Pupil Expenditures

California has consistently fallen below the national average in per-pupil expenditures (unadjusted for regional cost differences), ranking 24th in 2006–07, according to the National Education Association's (NEA) Rankings and Estimates 2008–09. At $9,124 per pupil, California was at 95% of the national average of $9,565. The District of Columbia, which ranked at the top of all states, spent $16,540. Arizona, ranked last, spent $5,255.

Teachers' Salaries

The average teacher salary in California was $63,640 in 2006–07, according to the NEA, higher than any other state. The U.S. average was $50,758. However, the relatively higher cost of living in California is a significant factor. When comparing teacher salaries among states, both the cost of living in each state and the seniority of the workforce play a role. The American Federation of Teachers looked at average teacher salaries in 2000–01 and determined that when cost-of-living factors were taken into account, California ranked 16th in the nation.

Teacher Salary and Expenditure Comparisons for 2006-07

Note: The numbers in this table are based on fall enrollment data. The District of Columbia is included among the states.

Data: National Education Association's Rankings & Estimates 2008–09                                 

EdSource 1/09

A more recent 2005 analysis of elementary school teacher pay in 50 major metropolitan areas by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) provides further perspective. NCPA found that although elementary school teachers in San Francisco rank 2nd among the 50 areas with an unadjusted average salary of $59,284, the salary falls to $32,663 when adjusted for the cost of living, and San Francisco falls to 49th among the areas they compared. Similarly, Los Angeles elementary school teachers' average salary ranked 4th before a cost-of-living adjustment and 48th after. Findings for secondary school teachers were similar. NCPA determined metropolitan areas' cost of living by using the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association Cost of Living Index and calculated average teacher salaries using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates report.

School Staffing

California ranked almost last in terms of the ratio of total school staff to students in 2006–07, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The state had only 72% as many school staff members as the average state. California had only 39% as many district officials/administrators as the national average and only 71% as many school principals and assistant principals as the national average.

With respect to teachers, California ranked 49th, with 74% as many as the national average. California ranked 51st—last—on guidance counselors and librarians. California had only 1.0 guidance counselors per 1,000 students, compared with an average of 2.1 nationally and only 0.2 librarians per 1,000 students, compared with 1.1 nationally.

Ratio of Staff to 1,000 Students by Position, Fall 2006–07 

* These numbers translate into a student/teacher ratio of 20.9 students to 1 teacher for California and 15.5 to 1 for the entire U.S. Only Oregon and Utah have a higher student/teacher ratio than California.

1. Illinois has 0.02 district officials/administrators per 1,000 students.

Notes: The numbers in this table are based on fall enrollment data and include pre-K public school students and their teachers. NCES estimated that there were 119,895 pre-K students and 7,387 pre-K teachers in California in 2006-07. If the pre-K students and teachers are not included, California's student/teacher ratio is 21.0. The District of Columbia is included among the states. The "Total staff" row includes all district and school staff plus those who fall under the NCES category "All Other Support Staff." The California's percent of national average figures were calculated using unrounded numbers.

Data: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data, 2006-07, accessed 1/26/09

EdSource  6/2009