Substitute teachers, short-term salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,560 | $13.73 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Mean (average) | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| 90th percentile | $65,790 | $31.63 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Substitute teachers, short-term pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,340 | $18,170 | $30,020 | 9,290 | 1.3 |
| Alaska | $66,920 | $38,250 | $132,530 | 1,420 | 1.3 |
| Arizona | $38,500 | $31,170 | $50,290 | 4,710 | 0.43 |
| Arkansas | $29,230 | $24,440 | $36,040 | 2,560 | 0.58 |
| California | $60,300 | $39,040 | $78,670 | 115,660 | 1.88 |
| Connecticut | $38,460 | $35,050 | $63,980 | 5,950 | 1.04 |
| Delaware | $36,510 | $31,200 | $50,590 | ||
| District of Columbia | $49,790 | $46,450 | $51,090 | 750 | 0.31 |
| Florida | $37,080 | $30,300 | $60,520 | 25,270 | 0.75 |
| Georgia | $38,870 | $20,800 | $45,900 | 16,400 | 0.99 |
| Guam | $27,210 | $27,210 | $46,220 | 780 | 3.49 |
| Hawaii | $58,530 | $45,690 | $60,620 | 3,990 | 1.89 |
| Idaho | $34,080 | $29,110 | $45,240 | 1,800 | 0.62 |
| Illinois | $39,410 | $31,200 | $58,040 | 17,220 | 0.84 |
| Indiana | $36,360 | $28,540 | $56,330 | 9,920 | 0.92 |
| Iowa | $37,230 | $30,980 | $47,770 | 7,300 | 1.39 |
| Kansas | $36,190 | $28,980 | $44,900 | 9,360 | 1.93 |
| Kentucky | $29,730 | $24,120 | $64,680 | 320 | 0.05 |
| Louisiana | $27,370 | $20,730 | $44,350 | 1,090 | 0.17 |
| Maine | $37,440 | $31,110 | $49,590 | ||
| Maryland | $46,470 | $32,870 | $47,360 | 7,610 | 0.82 |
| Massachusetts | $41,350 | $33,590 | $58,930 | 8,410 | 0.69 |
| Michigan | $39,500 | $29,720 | $61,370 | 3,600 | 0.24 |
| Minnesota | $50,390 | $37,750 | $75,890 | 8,660 | 0.87 |
| Mississippi | $22,340 | $16,430 | $33,320 | 2,390 | 0.61 |
| Missouri | $34,790 | $29,220 | $49,850 | 11,480 | 1.16 |
| Montana | $28,050 | $22,930 | $38,230 | 2,370 | 1.37 |
| Nebraska | $37,690 | $28,080 | $61,450 | 3,430 | 0.99 |
| Nevada | $24,960 | $24,960 | $40,620 | 6,600 | 1.26 |
| New Hampshire | $34,990 | $28,870 | $46,490 | 1,070 | 0.46 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 | $34,170 | $58,670 | 17,100 | 1.18 |
| New Mexico | $36,400 | $30,170 | $43,960 | 3,510 | 1.19 |
| New York | $43,490 | $35,090 | $60,010 | 36,090 | 1.1 |
| North Carolina | $33,780 | $28,390 | $45,040 | 20,360 | 1.22 |
| North Dakota | $42,570 | $33,780 | $55,080 | 420 | 0.29 |
| Ohio | $37,150 | $28,480 | $47,470 | 9,140 | 0.49 |
| Oklahoma | $23,770 | $18,300 | $42,550 | 4,990 | 0.87 |
| Oregon | $58,280 | $54,870 | $74,290 | 8,090 | 1.22 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,870 | $30,470 | $63,930 | 22,360 | 1.09 |
| Rhode Island | $45,590 | $36,410 | $60,640 | 1,910 | 1.13 |
| South Carolina | $30,400 | $22,460 | $78,690 | 7,700 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $27,840 | $25,560 | $34,700 | 1,610 | 1.04 |
| Tennessee | $29,500 | $21,570 | $35,970 | 7,690 | 0.69 |
| Texas | $32,040 | $22,870 | $39,090 | 29,150 | 0.61 |
| Utah | $36,490 | $24,710 | $53,780 | 4,710 | 0.8 |
| Vermont | $38,200 | $31,470 | $54,120 | 1,400 | 1.36 |
| Virginia | $39,020 | $27,670 | $53,540 | 24,350 | 1.76 |
| Washington | $55,740 | $45,790 | $67,700 | 14,820 | 1.24 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 | $41,440 | $75,290 | 4,840 | 2.05 |
| Wisconsin | $43,950 | $35,740 | $59,890 | 8,420 | 0.85 |
| Wyoming | $36,990 | $30,600 | $45,590 | 2,230 | 2.35 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for substitute teachers, short-term
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 65,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.2%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for substitute teachers, short-term
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Enforce school and class rules to maintain order in the classroom.
- Answer students' questions.
- Follow lesson plans designed by absent teachers.
- Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- Supervise students during activities outside the classroom, such as recess, lunch, and field trips.
- Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette.
- Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups.
- Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Common Curriculum
- EasyCBM
- Edmodo
- Flipgrid
- Google Classroom
- Google Meet
- Instructure Canvas
- Moodle
- Nearpod
- Schoology
- Seesaw
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Time Management, Service Orientation, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Building Sub (Building Substitute), Building Sub Teacher (Building Substitute Teacher), Child Development Sub Teacher (Child Development Substitute Teacher), ESL Sub (English as a Second Language Substitute), HS Sub Teacher (High School Substitute Teacher), Pre-School Sub Teacher (Pre-School Substitute Teacher), Short-Term Sub Teacher (Short-Term Substitute Teacher), Sub (Substitute), Sub Teacher (Substitute Teacher).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do substitute teachers, short-term make?
The national median annual wage for substitute teachers, short-term was $41,670 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $65,790. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do substitute teachers, short-term need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is substitute teachers, short-term a growing career?
BLS projects employment of substitute teachers, short-term to change +2.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 65,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay substitute teachers, short-term the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($66,920), California ($60,300), Hawaii ($58,530). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.