Educational Instruction and Library

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

17/100
#419 of 825
$41,670
median pay, U.S.
524,770
employed (2024)
+1.6%
growth, 2024–34
61,100
openings per year
Bachelor's degree
typical entry education

Is substitute teachers, short-term a good career?

It scores 17/100 and ranks #419 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • High volume of openings — about 61,100 a year

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($41,670 vs $61,390)
  • Slower-than-average projected growth (+1.6%)
  • Typically requires a bachelor's degree

What substitute teachers, short-term earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. substitute teachers, short-term earn between $34,170 and $54,890 a year.

Best-paying states

Alaska statewide
$66,920
California statewide
$60,300
Hawaii statewide
$58,530
Oregon statewide
$58,280
Washington statewide
$55,740
Minnesota statewide
$50,390
$49,790
West Virginia statewide
$49,020
Maryland statewide
$46,470
Rhode Island statewide
$45,590
$20k $80k $140k

Best-paying metros

01 Anchorage, AK $78,840
02 Napa, CA $76,520
03 San Jose, CA $72,330
04 Bakersfield, CA $66,480
05 Vallejo, CA $66,000
06 Stockton, CA $65,190
07 Salinas, CA $63,970
08 Modesto, CA $63,440

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 115,660
02 New York 36,090
03 Texas 29,150
04 Florida 25,270
05 Virginia 24,350
06 Pennsylvania 22,360

Live substitute teachers, short-term jobs

No live substitute teachers, short-term openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified substitute teachers, short-term openings will appear here — each shown against the $41,670 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a substitute teachers, short-term

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
None

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $46,800 median
Some college, no degree · $43,350 median
Bachelor's degree · $66,140 median
Questions about becoming a substitute teachers, short-term
How much do substitute teachers, short-term make?

The national median wage is $41,670 a year, with the middle half earning between $34,170 and $54,890 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is substitute teachers, short-term a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 17 of 100 and ranks #419 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +1.6% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a substitute teachers, short-term?

The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.

Where do substitute teachers, short-term earn the most?

Among states, Alaska pays the highest median ($66,920). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →