How much does a substitute teacher make?
The median substitute teacher in the United States earns $41,670 per year, about $20.03 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all substitute teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-3031.
Substitute teacher salary range
Pay for substitute teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,560 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $65,790. The average (mean) wage of $46,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,560 | $13.73 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $34,170 | $16.43 | |
| Median (50th) | $41,670 | $20.03 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $54,890 | $26.39 | |
| 90th percentile | $65,790 | $31.63 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for substitute teachers, short-term (SOC 25-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Substitute teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Substitute teachers earn the most in Alaska at $66,920 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $22,340. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $66,920 | 1,420 |
| California | $60,300 | 115,660 |
| Hawaii | $58,530 | 3,990 |
| Oregon | $58,280 | 8,090 |
| Washington | $55,740 | 14,820 |
| Minnesota | $50,390 | 8,660 |
| District of Columbia | $49,790 | 750 |
| West Virginia | $49,020 | 4,840 |
| Maryland | $46,470 | 7,610 |
| Rhode Island | $45,590 | 1,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,870 | 22,360 |
| Wisconsin | $43,950 | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $43,780 | 17,100 |
| New York | $43,490 | 36,090 |
| North Dakota | $42,570 | 420 |
| Massachusetts | $41,350 | 8,410 |
| Michigan | $39,500 | 3,600 |
| Illinois | $39,410 | 17,220 |
| Virginia | $39,020 | 24,350 |
| Georgia | $38,870 | 16,400 |
| Arizona | $38,500 | 4,710 |
| Connecticut | $38,460 | 5,950 |
| Vermont | $38,200 | 1,400 |
| Nebraska | $37,690 | 3,430 |
| Maine | $37,440 | N/A |
| Iowa | $37,230 | 7,300 |
| Ohio | $37,150 | 9,140 |
| Florida | $37,080 | 25,270 |
| Wyoming | $36,990 | 2,230 |
| Delaware | $36,510 | N/A |
| Utah | $36,490 | 4,710 |
| New Mexico | $36,400 | 3,510 |
| Indiana | $36,360 | 9,920 |
| Kansas | $36,190 | 9,360 |
| New Hampshire | $34,990 | 1,070 |
| Missouri | $34,790 | 11,480 |
| Idaho | $34,080 | 1,800 |
| North Carolina | $33,780 | 20,360 |
| Texas | $32,040 | 29,150 |
| South Carolina | $30,400 | 7,700 |
| Kentucky | $29,730 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $29,500 | 7,690 |
| Arkansas | $29,230 | 2,560 |
| Montana | $28,050 | 2,370 |
| South Dakota | $27,840 | 1,610 |
| Louisiana | $27,370 | 1,090 |
| Alabama | $25,340 | 9,290 |
| Nevada | $24,960 | 6,600 |
| Oklahoma | $23,770 | 4,990 |
| Mississippi | $22,340 | 2,390 |
State median wages for substitute teachers, short-term (SOC 25-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for substitute teachers
The BLS projects employment of substitute teachers to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 556,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 567,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 65,000 openings a year for substitute teachers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a substitute teacher
The typical entry-level education for substitute teachers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a substitute teacher earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $66,920) and the lowest (Mississippi, $22,340) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 524,770 people work as substitute teachers in the United States. At $41,670 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Substitute teacher salary FAQ
How much does a substitute teacher make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a substitute teacher is $20.03. The middle half of substitute teachers earn between $16.43 and $26.39 per hour.
What is the highest substitute teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of substitute teachers earn more than $65,790 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a substitute teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a substitute teacher is $41,670. The average (mean) wage of $46,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a substitute teacher a well paid job?
At $41,670 a year, a substitute teacher earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 524,770 people work as substitute teachers in the United States.
Which state pays substitute teachers the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for substitute teachers at $66,920 a year. California ($60,300) and Hawaii ($58,530) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a substitute teacher a good career?
Employment of substitute teachers is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 65,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a substitute teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for substitute teachers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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