Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary in Georgia
Short-term substitute teachers in Georgia earned a median of $38,870 a year ($18.69 an hour) and a mean of $36,240 in May 2025. The median is 6.7% below the U.S. median of $41,670, ranking 20th of 51 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $38,870
- Median hourly
- $18.69
- Mean annual
- $36,240
- Jobs on record
- 16,400
Grey needle: U.S. median, $41,670 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Georgia compare on pay for short-term substitute teachers?
Georgia ranks 20th of 51 states and territories. Alaska is highest at $66,920, $28,050 more than the Georgia median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 18 | $39,410 | -5% | 17,220 |
| Virginia | 19 | $39,020 | -6% | 24,350 |
| Georgia | 20 | $38,870 | -7% | 16,400 |
| Arizona | 21 | $38,500 | -8% | 4,710 |
| Connecticut | 22 | $38,460 | -8% | 5,950 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 51 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Georgia pay go further after prices?
Prices in Georgia run 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the $38,870 median buys about what $40,366 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $41,670 U.S. median. On this measure Georgia ranks 17th of 50, up from 20th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Georgia pay short-term substitute teachers the most?
Warner Robins, GA is highest at $43,030, 10.7% above the Georgia median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins, GA | $43,030 | 460 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $39,340 | 12,070 |
| Gainesville, GA | $37,110 | 230 |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,200 | 130 |
| Savannah, GA | $34,170 | 280 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $32,350 | 290 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $31,370 | 180 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $27,820 | 580 |
| East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $27,790 | 300 |
| Albany, GA | $27,410 | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $24,800 | 360 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $23,730 | 600 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $23,670 | 110 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $23,350 | 110 |
| Valdosta, GA | $22,340 | |
| Hinesville, GA | $22,030 | 100 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Georgia is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many short-term substitute teachers work in Georgia?
BLS counts 16,400 jobs in Georgia, 3.1% of the 524,770 in the U.S. That is the 10th largest count among the 49 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in Georgia, a location quotient of 0.99: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.99 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Georgia minimum wage compare with pay for short-term substitute teachers?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for short-term substitute teachers in Georgia was $10.00 in May 2025, $2.75 above the $7.25 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date. The state rate is below $7.25; the federal $7.25 applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Georgia
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.