Salary comparison
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Sacramento vs Modesto
Sacramento, CA pays about 1.7% more for elementary school teachers, except special education on paper — $103,390 vs $101,640. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Sacramento comes out ahead by $1,750 a year in real buying power.
Sacramento, CA
$103,390
$78,450
$115,540
$49.71
100
$103,390/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Modesto, CA
$101,640
$77,460
$124,710
$48.87
100
$101,640/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,750 a year (1.7%) in favor of Sacramento. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Sacramento runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Modesto sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Sacramento is the better deal by $1,750 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Modesto to Sacramento for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.7% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do elementary school teachers, except special education earn more, Sacramento or Modesto?
Sacramento pays $103,390 on median — about 1.7% more than Modesto ($101,640). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Sacramento. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Sacramento gives you roughly$103,390 of real buying power versus $101,640 in the other city.