Public School Salary Schedule Data (2016-2017)

California Labor Code Section 515.8 contains a minimum salary threshold requirement that must (in addition to other related requirements) be met in order for a private school teacher to be deemed an exempt employee.  To meet this requirement, a teacher must earn the greater of the following:

(A) No less than 100 percent of the lowest salary offered by any school district to a person who is in a position that requires the person to have a valid California teaching credential and is not employed in that position pursuant to an emergency permit, intern permit, or waiver.

(B) The equivalent of no less than 70 percent of the lowest schedule salary offered by the school district or county in which the private elementary or secondary academic institution is located to a person who is in a position that requires the person to have a valid California teaching credential and is not employed in that position pursuant to an emergency permit, intern permit, or waiver.

The table appearing below provides salary schedule data furnished by the California Department of Education for most public school districts and county offices of education for the 2016-2017 school year.  The data are sorted by county, and by districts within counties.  The second column from the right indicates the lowest salary offered to a public school teacher holding a B.A. degree and at least 30 post-baccalaureate units.  The last column on the right shows 70 percent of that figure.

Note:  Certain districts are listed twice.  These are districts that do not have a “BA + 30” column on their certificated salary schedules.  For these districts, the upper row presents a figure from the district’s salary schedule column that appears to come closest to the “BA + 30” level without necessarily achieving it.  The lower row contains data from the first column on the district’s certificated salary schedule that appears to clearly exceed the “BA + 30” requirement.

Using the Table

1. Scroll down the table to locate the public school district in which your private school is located.
2. Write down the corresponding figure appearing in the column titled “70%”, and write the letter “A” next to the figure.
3. Now find the row containing information for the relevant county office of education.
4. Write down the corresponding figure appearing in the column titled “70%” and write the letter “B” next to the figure.
5. Write down $33,803, and place the letter “C” next to this figure.
6. The minimum salary to be paid a private school teacher deemed an exempt employee is the lesser of “A” and “B” as long as that amount is greater than “C.”  If neither “A” or “B” is greater than “C,” then “C” ($33,803) is the minimum salary threshold.