San Francisco Early Educators Report Stronger Wages and Stability, While Survey Highlights Ongoing Staffing and Support Needs

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — May 13, 2026 — The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, in partnership with the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at the University of California, Berkeley, has released new findings from the 2025 SEQUAL San Francisco survey. The report offers a detailed look at the working conditions of early educators across the city.

Conducted between January and March 2025, the survey gathered responses from 1,080 early educators working in center-based and home-based early care and education programs throughout San Francisco. The findings show that San Francisco’s early educator workforce is highly educated, deeply experienced, and more economically stable than many of its regional and statewide peers. At the same time, educators identified areas where additional support is still needed, including staffing, substitute care, professional development, and opportunities to have a stronger voice in workplace decisions.

“San Francisco’s early educators are essential to the well-being of our children, families, and city,” said Ingrid Mezquita. “These findings show that local investments in compensation and workforce supports are making a real difference. They also remind us that we need to keep listening to educators and improving the conditions that help them do their best work.”

Among center-based teaching staff, 74 percent reported having six or more years of experience in early care and education, and 64 percent held an associate degree or higher. Educators also reported strong workplace relationships: 82 percent agreed that they and their colleagues see themselves as a team, and 84 percent said their supervisor is knowledgeable about early childhood curriculum and teaching.

The report also points to the impact of San Francisco’s local compensation investments. Center-based teaching staff reported earning between $30 and $33 per hour, higher than many early educators elsewhere in the region and state. These wages also fall within the estimated living wage range for San Francisco households.

A companion brief focused on Black early educators found that Black center-based educators in San Francisco earned the same median hourly wage as their peers: $32 per hour. This stands in contrast to statewide and national patterns, where Black early educators often earn less than educators of other races and ethnicities. The brief also found that Black early educators in San Francisco are highly experienced, averaging 15 years in the field, and highly educated, with two thirds holding an associate degree or higher.

Even with this progress, the findings show that more work remains. Many educators reported challenges related to staffing shortages, finding substitutes, and accessing professional development that meets their needs. Black early educators, in particular, were less likely than their peers to report having enough staff, adequate outside resources for children and families, or a meaningful voice in shaping program policies.

These findings reinforce the importance of looking at working conditions as a whole. Compensation matters, and San Francisco has made important progress. But educators also need reliable staffing, relevant professional learning, collaborative workplace cultures, and a meaningful role in shaping the programs where they work.”

DEC will use the SEQUAL findings to guide ongoing workforce investments and policy priorities, including efforts to strengthen educator preparation pathways, improve access to professional development, support substitute care solutions, and continue evaluating the impact of compensation initiatives.

The full report, Working Conditions for Early Educators in San Francisco: Findings From the 2025 SEQUAL Survey, and the brief, SEQUAL San Francisco: Black Early Educators Assess Their Working Conditions, are available through DEC and CSCCE.

Read the report and Read the Brief