Teachers in the St. Helena Unified School District earn an average of $155,546 per year, according to state data for 2023-24 — making it one of the highest-paying public school districts in California. Only Mountain View-Los Altos Union High in Santa Clara County pays more.

By contrast, teachers in neighboring Napa Valley Unified, the county’s largest district with about 16,000 students, earn an average of $104,358. That figure sits slightly above the state average of $101,084, yet it’s nearly one-third lower than in the 1,100-student St. Helena district.

The disparity underscores how, even within a single county, wealth and housing values can dramatically shape school resources and teacher pay. A new study released this month says such gaps are a direct result of California’s funding

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