Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Diego
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Diego
Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it’s fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there’s room to specialize and pursue your passion.
Historically, teachers’ pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in San Diego-Carlsbad, CA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
#49. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $37,050
– #50 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 8,230
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,760
– Employment: 1,187,270
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#48. Tutors
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $37,530
– #163 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,470
National
– Annual mean salary: $41,780
– Employment: 147,100
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
— Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)
CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images
#47. Preschool teachers, except special education
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $38,020
– #121 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,240
National
– Annual mean salary: $36,460
– Employment: 391,670
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
— Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
— Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
Unsplash
#46. Library technicians
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $43,070
– #65 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,270
National
– Annual mean salary: $39,070
– Employment: 73,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
— Napa, CA ($57,890)
Education Images // Getty Images
#45. Substitute teachers, short-term
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $43,750
– #61 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 6,360
National
– Annual mean salary: $38,410
– Employment: 374,620
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
— Appleton, WI ($63,310)
— Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)
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Pixabay
#44. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $46,810
– #27 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,490
National
– Annual mean salary: $41,170
– Employment: 121,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)
StockphotoVideo // Shutterstock
#43. Museum technicians and conservators
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $50,030
– #23 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100
National
– Annual mean salary: $52,030
– Employment: 10,960
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)
Brian S. Hagberg // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Self-enrichment teachers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $51,500
– #50 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,730
National
– Annual mean salary: $49,230
– Employment: 216,910
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
— Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)
Jeff Reed // flickr
#41. Archivists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $54,040
– #26 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30
National
– Annual mean salary: $61,880
– Employment: 6,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
— Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)
Iam_Anupong // Shutterstock
#40. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $70,980
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 580
National
– Annual mean salary: $64,490
– Employment: 120,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
— Kingston, NY ($92,160)
— Salinas, CA ($90,490)
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Simon Fraser Universtiy // flickr
#39. Instructional coordinators
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $74,270
– #85 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,580
National
– Annual mean salary: $70,560
– Employment: 184,740
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Salem, OR ($93,890)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
#38. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $74,870
– #50 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,070
National
– Annual mean salary: $67,090
– Employment: 187,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Salinas, CA ($102,210)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
— Chico, CA ($88,430)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#37. Librarians and media collections specialists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $76,640
– #17 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 830
National
– Annual mean salary: $64,180
– Employment: 127,790
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#36. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $78,360
– #11 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $60,650
– Employment: 38,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)
The Boston Globe // Getty Images
#34 (tie). Elementary school teachers, except special education
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $78,680
– #45 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 9,790
National
– Annual mean salary: $67,080
– Employment: 1,329,280
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
— Salinas, CA ($91,280)
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Marcwathieu // Wikimedia Commons
#34 (tie). Curators
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $78,680
– #5 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $63,880
– Employment: 11,030
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)
industryviews // Shutterstock
#33. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $79,330
– #23 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 710
National
– Annual mean salary: $63,130
– Employment: 105,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
— Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)
industryviews // Shutterstock
#32. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $84,380
– #34 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 420
National
– Annual mean salary: $68,960
– Employment: 84,360
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)
B Brown // Shutterstock
#31. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $89,530
– #21 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 8,330
National
– Annual mean salary: $69,530
– Employment: 1,020,240
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
— Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)
Canva
#30. Special education teachers, middle school
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $90,840
– #5 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $68,860
– Employment: 79,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)
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Suzannekweiss // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $92,880
– #29 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 300
National
– Annual mean salary: $82,040
– Employment: 68,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
— Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
#28. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $93,110
– #6 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,780
National
– Annual mean salary: $66,880
– Employment: 592,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
— Yuba City, CA ($94,480)
University of the Fraser Valley // flickr
#27. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $109,430
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 180
National
– Annual mean salary: $88,260
– Employment: 20,850
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
#26. Special education teachers, secondary school
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $110,320
– #1 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 690
National
– Annual mean salary: $70,100
– Employment: 145,690
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)
Fae // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $110,410
– #8 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 390
National
– Annual mean salary: $88,390
– Employment: 36,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
— Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
— Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#24. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $110,720
– #10 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140
National
– Annual mean salary: $102,110
– Employment: 5,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)
COD Newsroom // Flickr
#23. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $114,370
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 630
National
– Annual mean salary: $82,680
– Employment: 58,480
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)
Irina.stelea // Wikimedia Commons
#22. History teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $114,870
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160
National
– Annual mean salary: $86,460
– Employment: 18,590
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)
Tulane Public Relations // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $118,000
– #5 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110
National
– Annual mean salary: $87,850
– Employment: 12,550
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)
Fabrice Florin // flickr
#20. Education teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $119,140
– #1 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 540
National
– Annual mean salary: $76,990
– Employment: 58,780
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#19. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $119,510
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80
National
– Annual mean salary: $91,680
– Employment: 9,040
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
#18. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $120,840
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30
National
– Annual mean salary: $92,210
– Employment: 5,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ann Arbor, MI ($133,560)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($126,820)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($120,840)
Kenny Holston // flickr
#17. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $121,490
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170
National
– Annual mean salary: $79,080
– Employment: 13,860
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)
Shane Global // flickr
#16. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $124,080
– #5 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200
National
– Annual mean salary: $82,990
– Employment: 19,640
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)
Simon Fraser Universtiy // flickr
#15. Communications teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $124,310
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 260
National
– Annual mean salary: $84,580
– Employment: 27,330
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#14. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $125,880
– #8 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 760
National
– Annual mean salary: $86,240
– Employment: 94,720
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
— Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#13. Political science teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $128,760
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120
National
– Annual mean salary: $98,980
– Employment: 14,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
#12. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $131,120
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270
National
– Annual mean salary: $94,060
– Employment: 20,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#11. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $133,010
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 440
National
– Annual mean salary: $87,980
– Employment: 44,140
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)
NNSA // Flickr
#10. Law teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $139,520
– #8 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 210
National
– Annual mean salary: $130,820
– Employment: 14,110
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($165,990)
— Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($152,750)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($152,190)
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Canva
#9. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $140,800
– #2 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40
National
– Annual mean salary: $93,230
– Employment: 2,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#8. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $141,580
– #6 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 220
National
– Annual mean salary: $89,610
– Employment: 37,600
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
— Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
— Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#7. Physics teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $144,580
– #2 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150
National
– Annual mean salary: $99,480
– Employment: 12,460
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#6. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $145,000
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 480
National
– Annual mean salary: $98,710
– Employment: 47,690
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
#5. Business teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $146,590
– #6 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 500
National
– Annual mean salary: $105,720
– Employment: 79,640
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
— Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)
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ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#4. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $147,770
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $102,840
– Employment: 10,250
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#3. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $150,240
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360
National
– Annual mean salary: $115,590
– Employment: 35,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)
Canva
#2. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $176,220
– #6 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 960
National
– Annual mean salary: $133,310
– Employment: 191,830
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
— Jackson, MS ($202,690)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#1. Economics teachers, postsecondary
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $180,490
– #2 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100
National
– Annual mean salary: $124,090
– Employment: 11,790
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)
