25 Series · SOC 25-3031
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $41,670
- Median / year
- $65,790
- Top 10% earn
- +1.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 524,770
- US workers
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn a median of $41,670 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $41,670, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $28,560 (10th percentile) to $65,790 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 524,770 US workers. Alaska pays the most ($66,920), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn a median of $41,670, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 14% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks #62 of 64 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.6% by 2033.
- $41,670
- Median annual wage
- Top 86%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #62 of 64
- in Educational Instruction and Library
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Alaska at $66,920. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (SOC 25-3031) pays a national median of $41,670 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $28,560 at the 10th percentile to $65,790 at the 90th, with a mean of $46,420 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 524,770 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 445 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 61,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $66,920, which is +61% above the national figure. The top metro is Anchorage, AK at $78,840 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 524,770 jobs Median $41,670/yr
Median Salary
$41,670
per year
Median Hourly
$20.03/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$46,420
average
Employment
524,770
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$41,670 Bottom 14% higher than 14% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 25-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Substitute Teachers, Short-Term; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 25-series occupations with growth data, Substitute Teachers, Short-Term sits on the slower-growing side at +1.6% growth and $41,670 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1.6%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
61,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.8/100
Danger Index
3.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Active Listening 3.6
Speaking 3.6
Social Perceptiveness 3.5
Critical Thinking 3.4
Monitoring 3.4
Instructing 3.4
Writing 3.1
Learning Strategies 3.1
Time Management 3.1
Knowledge Areas
English Language 4.1
Education and Training 3.3
Public Safety and Security 3.2
Customer and Personal Service 3.0
Computers and Electronics 2.9
Mathematics 2.8
Psychology 2.8
Communications and Media 2.5
History and Archeology 2.4
Geography 2.3
Key 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.
- ▸ Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- ▸ Supervise students during activities outside the classroom, such as recess, lunch, and field trips.
- ▸ Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities.
- ▸ Teach social skills to students, such as communication, conflict resolution, and etiquette.
- ▸ Assist students with boarding or exiting school buses.
- ▸ Tutor or assist students individually or in small groups.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$28,560
25th Percentile
$34,170
Median
$41,670
75th Percentile
$54,890
90th Percentile
$65,790
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $66,920 | +61% above national |
| 2 | California | $60,300 | +45% above national |
| 3 | Hawaii | $58,530 | +40% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $58,280 | +40% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $55,740 | +34% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $50,390 | +21% above national |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $49,790 | +19% above national |
| 8 | West Virginia | $49,020 | +18% above national |
| 9 | Maryland | $46,470 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $45,590 | +9% above national |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $44,870 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $43,950 | +5% above national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $43,780 | +5% above national |
| 14 | New York | $43,490 | +4% above national |
| 15 | North Dakota | $42,570 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $41,350 | 1% below national |
| 17 | Michigan | $39,500 | 5% below national |
| 18 | Illinois | $39,410 | 5% below national |
| 19 | Virginia | $39,020 | 6% below national |
| 20 | Georgia | $38,870 | 7% below national |
| 21 | Arizona | $38,500 | 8% below national |
| 22 | Connecticut | $38,460 | 8% below national |
| 23 | Vermont | $38,200 | 8% below national |
| 24 | Nebraska | $37,690 | 10% below national |
| 25 | Maine | $37,440 | 10% below national |
| 26 | Iowa | $37,230 | 11% below national |
| 27 | Ohio | $37,150 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Florida | $37,080 | 11% below national |
| 29 | Wyoming | $36,990 | 11% below national |
| 30 | Delaware | $36,510 | 12% below national |
| 31 | Utah | $36,490 | 12% below national |
| 32 | New Mexico | $36,400 | 13% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $36,360 | 13% below national |
| 34 | Kansas | $36,190 | 13% below national |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $34,990 | 16% below national |
| 36 | Missouri | $34,790 | 17% below national |
| 37 | Idaho | $34,080 | 18% below national |
| 38 | North Carolina | $33,780 | 19% below national |
| 39 | Texas | $32,040 | 23% below national |
| 40 | South Carolina | $30,400 | 27% below national |
| 41 | Kentucky | $29,730 | 29% below national |
| 42 | Tennessee | $29,500 | 29% below national |
| 43 | Arkansas | $29,230 | 30% below national |
| 44 | Montana | $28,050 | 33% below national |
| 45 | South Dakota | $27,840 | 33% below national |
| 46 | Louisiana | $27,370 | 34% below national |
| 47 | Guam | $27,210 | 35% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $25,340 | 39% below national |
| 49 | Nevada | $24,960 | 40% below national |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $23,770 | 43% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,340 | 46% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 445 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $78,840 | +89% above national |
| 2 | Napa, CA | $76,520 | +84% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $72,330 | +74% above national |
| 4 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,480 | +60% above national |
| 5 | Vallejo, CA | $66,000 | +58% above national |
| 6 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $65,190 | +56% above national |
| 7 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $64,760 | +55% above national |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $63,970 | +54% above national |
| 9 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $63,680 | +53% above national |
| 10 | Modesto, CA | $63,440 | +52% above national |
| 11 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $62,660 | +50% above national |
| 12 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $62,400 | +50% above national |
| 13 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $62,310 | +50% above national |
| 14 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $62,280 | +49% above national |
| 15 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,260 | +49% above national |
| 16 | Yuba City, CA | $61,710 | +48% above national |
| 17 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $61,590 | +48% above national |
| 18 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $61,470 | +48% above national |
| 19 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,290 | +47% above national |
| 20 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $61,260 | +47% above national |
| 21 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $61,190 | +47% above national |
| 22 | Chico, CA | $61,030 | +46% above national |
| 23 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,790 | +46% above national |
| 24 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $60,780 | +46% above national |
| 25 | Merced, CA | $60,770 | +46% above national |
| 26 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,070 | +44% above national |
| 27 | St. Cloud, MN | $59,980 | +44% above national |
| 28 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,900 | +44% above national |
| 29 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,860 | +44% above national |
| 30 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59,780 | +43% above national |
| 31 | Rochester, MN | $59,510 | +43% above national |
| 32 | Corvallis, OR | $59,030 | +42% above national |
| 33 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $58,860 | +41% above national |
| 34 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $58,770 | +41% above national |
| 35 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $58,620 | +41% above national |
| 36 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $58,520 | +40% above national |
| 37 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $58,340 | +40% above national |
| 38 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $58,340 | +40% above national |
| 39 | Beckley, WV | $58,250 | +40% above national |
| 40 | Redding, CA | $57,460 | +38% above national |
| 41 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,210 | +37% above national |
| 42 | Bend, OR | $56,600 | +36% above national |
| 43 | Visalia, CA | $56,040 | +34% above national |
| 44 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $55,950 | +34% above national |
| 45 | Albany, OR | $55,740 | +34% above national |
| 46 | Bellingham, WA | $55,740 | +34% above national |
| 47 | Medford, OR | $55,580 | +33% above national |
| 48 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $55,470 | +33% above national |
| 49 | Fresno, CA | $54,890 | +32% above national |
| 50 | El Centro, CA | $54,420 | +31% above national |
| 51 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $54,350 | +30% above national |
| 52 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,050 | +30% above national |
| 53 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $53,850 | +29% above national |
| 54 | Walla Walla, WA | $53,610 | +29% above national |
| 55 | Green Bay, WI | $52,680 | +26% above national |
| 56 | Traverse City, MI | $52,450 | +26% above national |
| 57 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $52,000 | +25% above national |
| 58 | Yakima, WA | $51,490 | +24% above national |
| 59 | Jackson, MI | $51,390 | +23% above national |
| 60 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,400 | +21% above national |
| 61 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $50,390 | +21% above national |
| 62 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $49,680 | +19% above national |
| 63 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $49,640 | +19% above national |
| 64 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $49,630 | +19% above national |
| 65 | Erie, PA | $49,580 | +19% above national |
| 66 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $48,270 | +16% above national |
| 67 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,060 | +15% above national |
| 68 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $47,880 | +15% above national |
| 69 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,150 | +13% above national |
| 70 | Morgantown, WV | $46,760 | +12% above national |
| 71 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $46,680 | +12% above national |
| 72 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $46,610 | +12% above national |
| 73 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $46,530 | +12% above national |
| 74 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,470 | +12% above national |
| 75 | Reading, PA | $46,310 | +11% above national |
| 76 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $46,190 | +11% above national |
| 77 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,800 | +10% above national |
| 78 | Duluth, MN-WI | $45,790 | +10% above national |
| 79 | Lebanon, PA | $45,760 | +10% above national |
| 80 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $45,750 | +10% above national |
| 81 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,680 | +10% above national |
| 82 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $45,580 | +9% above national |
| 83 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $45,510 | +9% above national |
| 84 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,220 | +9% above national |
| 85 | Charleston, WV | $45,080 | +8% above national |
| 86 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $45,050 | +8% above national |
| 87 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $45,050 | +8% above national |
| 88 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $44,960 | +8% above national |
| 89 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $44,880 | +8% above national |
| 90 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $44,690 | +7% above national |
| 91 | Fayetteville, NC | $44,680 | +7% above national |
| 92 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $44,570 | +7% above national |
| 93 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $44,550 | +7% above national |
| 94 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $44,480 | +7% above national |
| 95 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $44,420 | +7% above national |
| 96 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $44,370 | +6% above national |
| 97 | Kenosha, WI | $44,240 | +6% above national |
| 98 | Madison, WI | $43,960 | +5% above national |
| 99 | Lexington Park, MD | $43,940 | +5% above national |
| 100 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,900 | +5% above national |
| 101 | Kingston, NY | $43,490 | +4% above national |
| 102 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $43,460 | +4% above national |
| 103 | Omaha, NE-IA | $43,440 | +4% above national |
| 104 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $43,350 | +4% above national |
| 105 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $43,180 | +4% above national |
| 106 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $43,140 | +4% above national |
| 107 | York-Hanover, PA | $43,110 | +3% above national |
| 108 | Syracuse, NY | $43,070 | +3% above national |
| 109 | Warner Robins, GA | $43,030 | +3% above national |
| 110 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $43,030 | +3% above national |
| 111 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $43,030 | +3% above national |
| 112 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $42,740 | +3% above national |
| 113 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $42,640 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Fond du Lac, WI | $42,580 | +2% above national |
| 115 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $42,580 | +2% above national |
| 116 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $42,570 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Glens Falls, NY | $42,470 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Rochester, NY | $42,280 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $42,270 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $42,080 | +1% above national |
| 121 | Altoona, PA | $42,060 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $41,930 | +1% above national |
| 123 | Pittsburgh, PA | $41,820 | same as national |
| 124 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $41,620 | same as national |
| 125 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $41,600 | same as national |
| 126 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $41,600 | same as national |
| 127 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $41,590 | same as national |
| 128 | Springfield, MA | $41,350 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $41,210 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $40,620 | 3% below national |
| 131 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $40,530 | 3% below national |
| 132 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $40,440 | 3% below national |
| 133 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $40,000 | 4% below national |
| 134 | Sheboygan, WI | $39,980 | 4% below national |
| 135 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $39,870 | 4% below national |
| 136 | Binghamton, NY | $39,860 | 4% below national |
| 137 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $39,800 | 4% below national |
| 138 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $39,770 | 5% below national |
| 139 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $39,370 | 6% below national |
| 140 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $39,340 | 6% below national |
| 141 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $39,340 | 6% below national |
| 142 | Columbia, SC | $39,250 | 6% below national |
| 143 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $39,230 | 6% below national |
| 144 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $39,050 | 6% below national |
| 145 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $39,040 | 6% below national |
| 146 | Appleton, WI | $39,010 | 6% below national |
| 147 | Flagstaff, AZ | $39,010 | 6% below national |
| 148 | Decatur, IL | $39,000 | 6% below national |
| 149 | Utica-Rome, NY | $39,000 | 6% below national |
| 150 | Ann Arbor, MI | $38,920 | 7% below national |
| 151 | Cheyenne, WY | $38,830 | 7% below national |
| 152 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $38,830 | 7% below national |
| 153 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,790 | 7% below national |
| 154 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $38,690 | 7% below national |
| 155 | Flint, MI | $38,600 | 7% below national |
| 156 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $38,540 | 8% below national |
| 157 | Las Cruces, NM | $38,520 | 8% below national |
| 158 | Worcester, MA | $38,460 | 8% below national |
| 159 | Lancaster, PA | $38,420 | 8% below national |
| 160 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $38,150 | 8% below national |
| 161 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $38,060 | 9% below national |
| 162 | Columbus, OH | $37,940 | 9% below national |
| 163 | Tucson, AZ | $37,890 | 9% below national |
| 164 | Charlottesville, VA | $37,870 | 9% below national |
| 165 | Ithaca, NY | $37,820 | 9% below national |
| 166 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,820 | 9% below national |
| 167 | Elmira, NY | $37,810 | 9% below national |
| 168 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $37,810 | 9% below national |
| 169 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,750 | 9% below national |
| 170 | Santa Fe, NM | $37,730 | 9% below national |
| 171 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,690 | 10% below national |
| 172 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,690 | 10% below national |
| 173 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $37,650 | 10% below national |
| 174 | Ogden, UT | $37,480 | 10% below national |
| 175 | New Haven, CT | $37,450 | 10% below national |
| 176 | Barnstable Town, MA | $37,390 | 10% below national |
| 177 | Vineland, NJ | $37,360 | 10% below national |
| 178 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $37,330 | 10% below national |
| 179 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $37,260 | 11% below national |
| 180 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $37,230 | 11% below national |
| 181 | Kokomo, IN | $37,220 | 11% below national |
| 182 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $37,180 | 11% below national |
| 183 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $37,150 | 11% below national |
| 184 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,130 | 11% below national |
| 185 | Gainesville, GA | $37,110 | 11% below national |
| 186 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,090 | 11% below national |
| 187 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $37,090 | 11% below national |
| 188 | Dover, DE | $37,070 | 11% below national |
| 189 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,050 | 11% below national |
| 190 | Rockford, IL | $37,000 | 11% below national |
| 191 | Fargo, ND-MN | $36,990 | 11% below national |
| 192 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $36,990 | 11% below national |
| 193 | Evansville, IN | $36,950 | 11% below national |
| 194 | Lawrence, KS | $36,940 | 11% below national |
| 195 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $36,890 | 11% below national |
| 196 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,850 | 12% below national |
| 197 | Iowa City, IA | $36,850 | 12% below national |
| 198 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $36,830 | 12% below national |
| 199 | Sebring, FL | $36,750 | 12% below national |
| 200 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $36,730 | 12% below national |
| 201 | Wausau, WI | $36,720 | 12% below national |
| 202 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,710 | 12% below national |
| 203 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $36,710 | 12% below national |
| 204 | Kankakee, IL | $36,700 | 12% below national |
| 205 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,700 | 12% below national |
| 206 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,700 | 12% below national |
| 207 | Roanoke, VA | $36,670 | 12% below national |
| 208 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $36,560 | 12% below national |
| 209 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $36,560 | 12% below national |
| 210 | Ocala, FL | $36,540 | 12% below national |
| 211 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $36,520 | 12% below national |
| 212 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,500 | 12% below national |
| 213 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,500 | 12% below national |
| 214 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,490 | 12% below national |
| 215 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,450 | 13% below national |
| 216 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $36,440 | 13% below national |
| 217 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 13% below national |
| 218 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,420 | 13% below national |
| 219 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,400 | 13% below national |
| 220 | St. George, UT | $36,380 | 13% below national |
| 221 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,360 | 13% below national |
| 222 | Ames, IA | $36,330 | 13% below national |
| 223 | Bloomington, IL | $36,330 | 13% below national |
| 224 | Logan, UT-ID | $36,330 | 13% below national |
| 225 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,220 | 13% below national |
| 226 | Farmington, NM | $36,170 | 13% below national |
| 227 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $36,140 | 13% below national |
| 228 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,100 | 13% below national |
| 229 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | 13% below national |
| 230 | Fort Wayne, IN | $36,060 | 13% below national |
| 231 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,040 | 14% below national |
| 232 | Topeka, KS | $36,040 | 14% below national |
| 233 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,030 | 14% below national |
| 234 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $35,980 | 14% below national |
| 235 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,970 | 14% below national |
| 236 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,960 | 14% below national |
| 237 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,930 | 14% below national |
| 238 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $35,900 | 14% below national |
| 239 | Winchester, VA-WV | $35,900 | 14% below national |
| 240 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,850 | 14% below national |
| 241 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $35,760 | 14% below national |
| 242 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,750 | 14% below national |
| 243 | Springfield, IL | $35,620 | 15% below national |
| 244 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $35,510 | 15% below national |
| 245 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $35,490 | 15% below national |
| 246 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,490 | 15% below national |
| 247 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,470 | 15% below national |
| 248 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,460 | 15% below national |
| 249 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,450 | 15% below national |
| 250 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $35,320 | 15% below national |
| 251 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $35,300 | 15% below national |
| 252 | Saginaw, MI | $35,260 | 15% below national |
| 253 | Richmond, VA | $35,230 | 15% below national |
| 254 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,200 | 16% below national |
| 255 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,190 | 16% below national |
| 256 | Bangor, ME | $35,030 | 16% below national |
| 257 | Bloomington, IN | $35,030 | 16% below national |
| 258 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $34,980 | 16% below national |
| 259 | Boise City, ID | $34,960 | 16% below national |
| 260 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $34,930 | 16% below national |
| 261 | Gettysburg, PA | $34,880 | 16% below national |
| 262 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $34,850 | 16% below national |
| 263 | Muncie, IN | $34,730 | 17% below national |
| 264 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $34,700 | 17% below national |
| 265 | Salisbury, MD | $34,620 | 17% below national |
| 266 | Manhattan, KS | $34,510 | 17% below national |
| 267 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $34,510 | 17% below national |
| 268 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,480 | 17% below national |
| 269 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $34,440 | 17% below national |
| 270 | Sandusky, OH | $34,440 | 17% below national |
| 271 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $34,420 | 17% below national |
| 272 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $34,410 | 17% below national |
| 273 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,310 | 18% below national |
| 274 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $34,280 | 18% below national |
| 275 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,280 | 18% below national |
| 276 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $34,270 | 18% below national |
| 277 | Springfield, OH | $34,230 | 18% below national |
| 278 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,230 | 18% below national |
| 279 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $34,200 | 18% below national |
| 280 | Savannah, GA | $34,170 | 18% below national |
| 281 | Terre Haute, IN | $34,150 | 18% below national |
| 282 | Lincoln, NE | $34,140 | 18% below national |
| 283 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,130 | 18% below national |
| 284 | Cleveland, OH | $34,080 | 18% below national |
| 285 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $34,080 | 18% below national |
| 286 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $34,070 | 18% below national |
| 287 | Asheville, NC | $34,060 | 18% below national |
| 288 | Midland, MI | $33,860 | 19% below national |
| 289 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $33,840 | 19% below national |
| 290 | Wilmington, NC | $33,780 | 19% below national |
| 291 | Lima, OH | $33,730 | 19% below national |
| 292 | Wichita, KS | $33,700 | 19% below national |
| 293 | Akron, OH | $33,610 | 19% below national |
| 294 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $33,480 | 20% below national |
| 295 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $33,220 | 20% below national |
| 296 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $33,110 | 21% below national |
| 297 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $32,990 | 21% below national |
| 298 | Midland, TX | $32,810 | 21% below national |
| 299 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $32,790 | 21% below national |
| 300 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $32,740 | 21% below national |
| 301 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $32,720 | 21% below national |
| 302 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $32,550 | 22% below national |
| 303 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $32,350 | 22% below national |
| 304 | Toledo, OH | $32,350 | 22% below national |
| 305 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,350 | 22% below national |
| 306 | Niles, MI | $32,270 | 23% below national |
| 307 | Springfield, MO | $32,190 | 23% below national |
| 308 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $32,010 | 23% below national |
| 309 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $31,960 | 23% below national |
| 310 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $31,940 | 23% below national |
| 311 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $31,930 | 23% below national |
| 312 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $31,920 | 23% below national |
| 313 | Jefferson City, MO | $31,750 | 24% below national |
| 314 | Yuma, AZ | $31,740 | 24% below national |
| 315 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $31,570 | 24% below national |
| 316 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $31,530 | 24% below national |
| 317 | Twin Falls, ID | $31,490 | 24% below national |
| 318 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $31,470 | 24% below national |
| 319 | Winston-Salem, NC | $31,470 | 24% below national |
| 320 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $31,470 | 24% below national |
| 321 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $31,370 | 25% below national |
| 322 | Laredo, TX | $31,220 | 25% below national |
| 323 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $31,200 | 25% below national |
| 324 | Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 25% below national |
| 325 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 25% below national |
| 326 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 25% below national |
| 327 | Jacksonville, NC | $31,130 | 25% below national |
| 328 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $31,050 | 25% below national |
| 329 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $30,930 | 26% below national |
| 330 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $30,820 | 26% below national |
| 331 | Joplin, MO-KS | $30,780 | 26% below national |
| 332 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,760 | 26% below national |
| 333 | Columbia, MO | $30,740 | 26% below national |
| 334 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $30,600 | 27% below national |
| 335 | Rocky Mount, NC | $30,590 | 27% below national |
| 336 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $30,340 | 27% below national |
| 337 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,310 | 27% below national |
| 338 | Billings, MT | $30,250 | 27% below national |
| 339 | Greenville, NC | $30,240 | 27% below national |
| 340 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,000 | 28% below national |
| 341 | Corpus Christi, TX | $29,970 | 28% below national |
| 342 | Gainesville, FL | $29,890 | 28% below national |
| 343 | Bozeman, MT | $29,880 | 28% below national |
| 344 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,750 | 29% below national |
| 345 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,750 | 29% below national |
| 346 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,690 | 29% below national |
| 347 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,620 | 29% below national |
| 348 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,510 | 29% below national |
| 349 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,500 | 29% below national |
| 350 | Jackson, MS | $29,470 | 29% below national |
| 351 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,400 | 29% below national |
| 352 | Mansfield, OH | $29,370 | 30% below national |
| 353 | Missoula, MT | $29,310 | 30% below national |
| 354 | Tallahassee, FL | $29,280 | 30% below national |
| 355 | Harrisonburg, VA | $29,240 | 30% below national |
| 356 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $29,230 | 30% below national |
| 357 | Abilene, TX | $29,120 | 30% below national |
| 358 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $29,110 | 30% below national |
| 359 | Tyler, TX | $29,010 | 30% below national |
| 360 | Wichita Falls, TX | $28,980 | 30% below national |
| 361 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $28,900 | 31% below national |
| 362 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $28,750 | 31% below national |
| 363 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $28,730 | 31% below national |
| 364 | Rapid City, SD | $28,550 | 31% below national |
| 365 | Dothan, AL | $28,410 | 32% below national |
| 366 | Odessa, TX | $28,410 | 32% below national |
| 367 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,270 | 32% below national |
| 368 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $28,220 | 32% below national |
| 369 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $28,130 | 32% below national |
| 370 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $28,050 | 33% below national |
| 371 | Oklahoma City, OK | $27,970 | 33% below national |
| 372 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $27,830 | 33% below national |
| 373 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $27,820 | 33% below national |
| 374 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $27,790 | 33% below national |
| 375 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $27,720 | 33% below national |
| 376 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,710 | 34% below national |
| 377 | Helena, MT | $27,700 | 34% below national |
| 378 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $27,560 | 34% below national |
| 379 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $27,490 | 34% below national |
| 380 | Albany, GA | $27,410 | 34% below national |
| 381 | Lynchburg, VA | $27,360 | 34% below national |
| 382 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $27,340 | 34% below national |
| 383 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $27,300 | 34% below national |
| 384 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $27,260 | 35% below national |
| 385 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,120 | 35% below national |
| 386 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,030 | 35% below national |
| 387 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $26,950 | 35% below national |
| 388 | Baton Rouge, LA | $26,890 | 35% below national |
| 389 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $26,890 | 35% below national |
| 390 | Tulsa, OK | $26,890 | 35% below national |
| 391 | Monroe, LA | $26,770 | 36% below national |
| 392 | Great Falls, MT | $26,730 | 36% below national |
| 393 | Waco, TX | $26,690 | 36% below national |
| 394 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $26,660 | 36% below national |
| 395 | Cleveland, TN | $26,590 | 36% below national |
| 396 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,590 | 36% below national |
| 397 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $26,540 | 36% below national |
| 398 | Mobile, AL | $25,720 | 38% below national |
| 399 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $25,720 | 38% below national |
| 400 | Johnson City, TN | $25,520 | 39% below national |
| 401 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $25,510 | 39% below national |
| 402 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $25,340 | 39% below national |
| 403 | Gadsden, AL | $25,340 | 39% below national |
| 404 | Huntsville, AL | $25,340 | 39% below national |
| 405 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $25,340 | 39% below national |
| 406 | Amarillo, TX | $25,280 | 39% below national |
| 407 | El Paso, TX | $24,980 | 40% below national |
| 408 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $24,960 | 40% below national |
| 409 | Montgomery, AL | $24,950 | 40% below national |
| 410 | Longview, TX | $24,820 | 40% below national |
| 411 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $24,800 | 40% below national |
| 412 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $24,690 | 41% below national |
| 413 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $24,520 | 41% below national |
| 414 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $24,290 | 42% below national |
| 415 | Lubbock, TX | $23,770 | 43% below national |
| 416 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $23,730 | 43% below national |
| 417 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $23,710 | 43% below national |
| 418 | Columbus, GA-AL | $23,670 | 43% below national |
| 419 | Jackson, TN | $23,400 | 44% below national |
| 420 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $23,350 | 44% below national |
| 421 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $23,060 | 45% below national |
| 422 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $22,950 | 45% below national |
| 423 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,880 | 45% below national |
| 424 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,700 | 46% below national |
| 425 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $22,620 | 46% below national |
| 426 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,570 | 46% below national |
| 427 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $22,560 | 46% below national |
| 428 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $22,520 | 46% below national |
| 429 | Valdosta, GA | $22,340 | 46% below national |
| 430 | Sumter, SC | $22,050 | 47% below national |
| 431 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22,040 | 47% below national |
| 432 | Hinesville, GA | $22,030 | 47% below national |
| 433 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,930 | 47% below national |
| 434 | Hattiesburg, MS | $21,730 | 48% below national |
| 435 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,700 | 48% below national |
| 436 | Knoxville, TN | $21,520 | 48% below national |
| 437 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $21,360 | 49% below national |
| 438 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $21,180 | 49% below national |
| 439 | Enid, OK | $20,980 | 50% below national |
| 440 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $20,800 | 50% below national |
| 441 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $20,330 | 51% below national |
| 442 | Lawton, OK | $19,490 | 53% below national |
| 443 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $18,620 | 55% below national |
| 444 | Decatur, AL | $17,680 | 58% below national |
| 445 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $17,510 | 58% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 25 (education) with comparable pay and career paths.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
SOC 25-3011
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1041
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1061
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1031
Archivists
SOC 25-4011
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Substitute Teachers, Short-Term make? ▼
The median annual salary for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term is $41,670 ($20.03/hour). The salary range spans from $28,560 at the 10th percentile to $65,790 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Substitute Teachers, Short-Term the most? ▼
Alaska pays the highest median salary for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term at $66,920/year, which is +61% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Substitute Teachers, Short-Term? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Substitute Teachers, Short-Term? ▼
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.8 per 100 workers.
Is Substitute Teachers, Short-Term a good career? ▼
Employment for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term is projected to grow 1.6% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 61,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay vary by state? ▼
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Alaska at $66,920/year, while Guam pays the least at $27,210/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term is Anchorage, AK at $78,840/year. BLS reports wage data for 445 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $54,890/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $66,920/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.