Early Childhood Education Degree in Huntington Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Huntington Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$84K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Huntington Beach
Cost of Living
168.5
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Huntington Beach, CA Overview
Huntington Beach, California (pop. 198,711) has 8 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 168.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,880/month. Early Childhood Education enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Child Development and Play-Based Learning. The adjusted starting salary in Huntington Beach is approximately $84,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,049/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,141/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
73%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Huntington Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Huntington Beach's cost of living index of 168.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Huntington Beach adjustment factor: 1.69x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Huntington Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Huntington Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Huntington Beach avg aid: $8,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,196
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,275
vs HS diploma in Huntington Beach
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Huntington Beach
$177,104
Lifetime earnings premium ($303,300) minus total education cost ($126,196)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Huntington Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Huntington Beach for Early Childhood Education
Huntington Beach State University
public
$13,570/yr
$54,280 total
University of Huntington Beach
public
$16,348/yr
$65,392 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Huntington Beach Community College
$7,272/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Huntington Beach Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Huntington Beach
Instructional Design & Technology
$84K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$84K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$84K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$84K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$84K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$84K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$84K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Huntington Beach — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Early Childhood Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Huntington Beach.