Elementary Education Degree in San Francisco, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Elementary Education degree analysis for San Francisco, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.2 yrs
in San Francisco
Cost of Living
114
index (100 = avg)
Elementary Education in San Francisco, CA Overview
San Francisco is one of California's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 65,778. Public tuition averages $7,266/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Elementary Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Lesson Planning and Classroom Management remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in San Francisco is approximately $57,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$7,266/yr
Private Tuition
$36,185/yr
Room & Board
$15,030/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,071/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
58%
Elementary Education Salary in San Francisco (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Francisco's cost of living index of 114 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Elementary Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.San Francisco adjustment factor: 1.14x based on the local cost of living index.
Elementary Education ROI Calculator for San Francisco
Estimate your return on investment for a Elementary Education degree using local San Francisco tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,266 | Private avg: $36,185
San Francisco avg aid: $11,071/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,184
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,100
vs HS diploma in San Francisco
ROI Payback Period
5.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Francisco
$230,016
Lifetime earnings premium ($319,200) minus total education cost ($89,184)
Student Loan Payoff for Elementary Education in San Francisco
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Francisco for Elementary Education
University of San Francisco
private
$54,514/yr
$218,056 total
San Francisco State University
public
$7,266/yr
$29,064 total
Golden Gate University
private
$17,856/yr
$71,424 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City College of San Francisco
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Elementary Education in San Francisco
San Francisco offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Elementary Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Francisco Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Elementary Education Job Titles
Elementary 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
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
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Education Majors in San Francisco
Instructional Design & Technology
$57K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$57K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$57K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Special Education
$57K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$57K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$57K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$57K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Elementary Education Degree in San Francisco — 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 Elementary Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in San Francisco.