Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn a median of $41,670 a year ($20.03/hr) in the U.S. – from $22,340 in Mississippi to $66,920 in Alaska. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$20.03/hr · $41,670 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$28,560$13.73/hr
75% earn more$34,170$16.43/hr
half earn more, half less$41,670$20.03/hr
25% earn more$54,890$26.39/hr
top 10% earn more$65,790$31.63/hr
pulled up by top earners$46,420$22.32/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among substitute teachers, short-term. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for substitute teachers, short-term. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
1,420 jobs · $32.17/hr$66,920
115,660 jobs · $28.99/hr$60,300
3,990 jobs · $28.14/hr$58,530
8,090 jobs · $28.02/hr$58,280
14,820 jobs · $26.80/hr$55,740
8,660 jobs · $24.22/hr$50,390
750 jobs · $23.94/hr$49,790
4,840 jobs · $23.57/hr$49,020
7,610 jobs · $22.34/hr$46,470
1,910 jobs · $21.92/hr$45,590
22,360 jobs · $21.57/hr$44,870
8,420 jobs · $21.13/hr$43,950
17,100 jobs · $21.05/hr$43,780
36,090 jobs · $20.91/hr$43,490
420 jobs · $20.47/hr$42,570
8,410 jobs · $19.88/hr$41,350
3,600 jobs · $18.99/hr$39,500
17,220 jobs · $18.95/hr$39,410
24,350 jobs · $18.76/hr$39,020
16,400 jobs · $18.69/hr$38,870
4,710 jobs · $18.51/hr$38,500
5,950 jobs · $18.49/hr$38,460
1,400 jobs · $18.37/hr$38,200
3,430 jobs · $18.12/hr$37,690
jobs n/a · $18.00/hr$37,440
7,300 jobs · $17.90/hr$37,230
9,140 jobs · $17.86/hr$37,150
25,270 jobs · $17.83/hr$37,080
2,230 jobs · $17.79/hr$36,990
jobs n/a · $17.55/hr$36,510
4,710 jobs · $17.55/hr$36,490
3,510 jobs · $17.50/hr$36,400
9,920 jobs · $17.48/hr$36,360
9,360 jobs · $17.40/hr$36,190
1,070 jobs · $16.82/hr$34,990
11,480 jobs · $16.73/hr$34,790
1,800 jobs · $16.39/hr$34,080
20,360 jobs · $16.24/hr$33,780
29,150 jobs · $15.41/hr$32,040
7,700 jobs · $14.62/hr$30,400
320 jobs · $14.29/hr$29,730
7,690 jobs · $14.18/hr$29,500
2,560 jobs · $14.05/hr$29,230
2,370 jobs · $13.49/hr$28,050
1,610 jobs · $13.39/hr$27,840
1,090 jobs · $13.16/hr$27,370
9,290 jobs · $12.18/hr$25,340
6,600 jobs · $12.00/hr$24,960
4,990 jobs · $11.43/hr$23,770
2,390 jobs · $10.74/hr$22,340
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 25-3031. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do substitute teachers, short-term make?
The median wage for substitute teachers, short-term in the U.S. was $20.03 an hour or $41,670 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $34,170 and $54,890 a year.
Which state pays substitute teachers, short-term the most?
Alaska has the highest median wage for substitute teachers, short-term: $66,920 a year. The lowest published median is in Mississippi at $22,340. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many substitute teachers, short-term are there?
BLS estimates 524,770 substitute teachers, short-term were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.