Drill Instructor Salaries in California
How Much Does a Drill Instructor Make in California?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Drill Instructor in California is $65,242.
While Salary.com is seeing that Drill Instructor salary in CA can go up to $81,071
or down to $50,455, but most earn between $57,502 and $73,527.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Drill Instructor
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Similar Job Salaries to Drill Instructor by Company
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| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
The State of Florida
Residential Drill Instructor
|
$48,249/yr
|
RANGE: $42,930 - $53,569
|
|
State of Florida
Residential Drill Instructor
|
$55,089/yr
|
RANGE: $47,798 - $62,380
|
|
LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM
Drill Instructor (2025-2026 School Year)
|
$74,525/yr
|
RANGE: $64,975 - $84,074
|
|
Prince of Peace Christian School and Early...
Dance Instructor / Drill Team Coach
|
$77,451/yr
|
RANGE: $67,580 - $87,323
|
|
MasTec Communications Group
Directional Drill Operator
|
$70,184/yr
|
RANGE: $61,868 - $78,500
|
|
MasTec Inc
Directional Drill Operator
|
$64,439/yr
|
RANGE: $56,804 - $72,074
|
|
AdvancedPCB
Laser Drill Operator
|
$65,666/yr
|
RANGE: $58,613 - $72,720
|
|
FORXA Inc
Instructor
|
$88,909/yr
|
RANGE: $77,515 - $100,303
|
|
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Instructor
|
$80,459/yr
|
RANGE: $69,809 - $91,109
|
|
United Cerebral Palsy Associations Inc
Instructor
|
$87,935/yr
|
RANGE: $76,434 - $99,435
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Drill Instructor Jobs in California
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Drill Instructor can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Drill Instructor job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Drill Instructor jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Drill Instructor positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Drill Instructor salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Drill Instructor salary is $74,605 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Drill Instructor salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Drill Instructor in California is $65,242,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Drill Instructor jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Drill Instructor jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| San Jose | $74,605 | $6,217 | $1,435 | $36 |
| Santa Clara | $74,605 | $6,217 | $1,435 | $36 |
| Fremont | $74,463 | $6,205 | $1,432 | $36 |
| San Francisco | $73,871 | $6,156 | $1,421 | $36 |
| Daly City | $73,871 | $6,156 | $1,421 | $36 |
| Berkeley | $72,233 | $6,019 | $1,389 | $35 |
| Oakland | $72,233 | $6,019 | $1,389 | $35 |
| Hayward | $72,115 | $6,010 | $1,387 | $35 |
| Antioch | $68,152 | $5,679 | $1,311 | $33 |
| Vallejo | $66,543 | $5,545 | $1,280 | $32 |
What Does a Drill Instructor Do?
The instructors, known as Drill Sergeant Leaders (DSL's) are previously trained, and experienced Drill Sergeants.
Updated November 21, 2021
Inherent to that new role of being a drill instructor and training at Drill Instructor School, there's some unique stressors that happen regarding that, and we're trying to understand both personally and professionally what we can do to set them up for success.
Updated November 21, 2021
Movies like "Full Metal Jacket" have created a perception of Marine Corps drill instructors that the school is trying to change.
Updated November 10, 2021
Instead of relying on stories about Vietnam or Korea from past generations, the current crop of drill instructors can tell their recruits what it's like to be in combat, based on their own experience, and why it's important for recruits to learn a skill that could someday save their lives.
Updated November 07, 2021
Class Drill Instructors train officer candidates alongside Class Chief Petty Officers who have experience training Navy recruits as Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs).
Updated November 02, 2021
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Drill Instructor Salaries
What is the average of a Drill Instructor in California?
The Drill Instructor salary range is from $57,502 to $73,527, and the average Drill Instructor salary is $65,242/year in California.
The Drill Instructor's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Drill Instructor salary in the United States?
The Drill Instructor salary in San Jose, CA is $74,605
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Drill Instructor's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Drill Instructor.
What is the growth rate of the Drill Instructor's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Drill Instructor or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Drill Instructor.
