How much does a Substitute Teacher, Short-Term make?
A Substitute Teacher, Short-Term earns a median annual salary of $41,670 in the United States, which works out to roughly $20.03 per hour for full-time work. Most Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn between $28,560 at the entry level and $65,790 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $34,170 and $54,890 a year.
That is $19,720 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary range by percentile
Half of all Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn between $34,170 and $54,890 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,560 | $13.73 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $34,170 | $16.43 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $41,670 | $20.03 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $54,890 | $26.39 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,790 | $31.63 |
Highest-paying states for Substitute Teacher, Short-Term
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Substitute Teacher, Short-Term pay at $66,920 a year, followed by California ($60,300) and Hawaii ($58,530). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $22,340 — a gap of $44,580 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $66,920 | $32.17 | +61% |
| 2 | California | $60,300 | $28.99 | +45% |
| 3 | Hawaii | $58,530 | $28.14 | +40% |
| 4 | Oregon | $58,280 | $28.02 | +40% |
| 5 | Washington | $55,740 | $26.80 | +34% |
Substitute Teacher, Short-Term salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 525,000 people work as Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $46,420 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Substitute Teacher, Short-Term make in the United States?
How does Substitute Teacher, Short-Term pay compare to other jobs?
Which state pays Substitute Teachers, Short-Term the most?
How long does it take to become a Substitute Teacher, Short-Term?
How many Substitute Teachers, Short-Term work in the United States?
Related salaries
Other education roles with similar pay.