Substitute Teacher, Short-Term Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$29,730
per year
Hourly Rate
$14.29
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-29% vs US median
US median $41,670
State Rank
#41 of 50
320 employed here

How much does a Substitute Teacher, Short-Term make in Kentucky?

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Kentucky take home a median of $29,730 annually — roughly $14.29 an hour — which runs 29% below the national median of $41,670.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $24,120 while the top 10% make $64,680 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $26,880 and $45,350 a year.

Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$24,120$11.60
25th percentile (early career)$26,880$12.92
50th percentile (median)$29,730$14.29
75th percentile (experienced)$45,350$21.80
90th percentile (top earners)$64,680$31.10

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 41st out of 50 states and territories for Substitute Teacher, Short-Term pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Alaska$66,920
2California$60,300
3Hawaii$58,530
4Oregon$58,280
5Washington$55,740

Working as a Substitute Teacher, Short-Term in Kentucky

Nationally, about 525,000 people work as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($29,730) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Substitute Teacher, Short-Term make in Kentucky?
The median Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary in Kentucky is $29,730 per year, or about $14.29 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $24,120 at the entry level to $64,680 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Substitute Teachers, Short-Term about 29% less than the national median of $41,670. Kentucky ranks 41st out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $29,730 a year. About 320 Substitute Teachers, Short-Term are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.