What Substitute Teachers, Short-Term do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Substitute Teachers, Short-Term this way: "Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher's lesson plan."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Answer students' questions"; "Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to improve professional competence"; "Counsel students with adjustment or academic problems"; "Distribute or collect tests or homework assignments"; "Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is bachelor's degree.
Job outlook for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 556,100 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 567,000 in 2035, an increase of 10,900 jobs (+2%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 65,000 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 11.7% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. 5.2% of workers in this occupation are self-employed; the wage figures below cover wage and salary workers. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $41,670, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn the most
Across the 14 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $31,647 in Texas to $59,947 in California, a gap of $28,300 (1.89 times). 9 of those 14 states average above the BLS national median of $41,670 and 5 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 115,200, which is 26.4% of the 437,190 counted across them. New York follows with 45,510.
Highest-paying states
California ($59,947), West Virginia ($46,862) and District of Columbia ($46,470) lead the ranking, while Texas ($31,647) and Georgia ($36,957) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term: pay against the cost of living
We compare 21 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Riverside County, CA (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA) at $19,151. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $4,304 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 20 of the 21 markets and falls short in 1. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 33.1% and 89.5% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (25-3000) include Self-Enrichment Teachers and Tutors.
Frequently asked questions about Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
What is the national median wage for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $41,670. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $31,647 to $59,947.
Which state pays Substitute Teachers, Short-Term the most?
California, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $59,947. West Virginia is next at $46,862.
What is the job outlook for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term?
BLS projects employment to grow by 2% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 65,000 openings a year.
What education do Substitute Teachers, Short-Term need?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, according to BLS.
Where can Substitute Teachers, Short-Term afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Riverside County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $19,151 on a median wage of $60,780.