Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $57,210 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,922 take-home, or $3,827 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median substitute teachers, short-term salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,685
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,547
- Medicare (1.45%)$830
- California income tax$1,482
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$744
- Take-home pay$45,922
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,090 | $17.83 | $31,027 | $2,586 |
| 25th percentile | $46,450 | $22.33 | $38,051 | $3,171 |
| Median (50th) | $57,210 | $27.50 | $45,922 | $3,827 |
| 75th percentile | $66,700 | $32.07 | $52,763 | $4,397 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,680 | $38.79 | $61,266 | $5,105 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,210 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median substitute teachers, short-term's $45,922 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,437 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.7× the national concentration of substitute teachers, short-term jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for substitute teachers, short-term, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #12 of 39 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $66,480 | $52,626 | $52,164 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $72,330 | $56,200 | $50,895 |
| 3 | Stockton, CA | $65,190 | $51,710 | $49,206 |
| 4 | Riverside, CA | $60,780 | $48,530 | $45,593 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $60,070 | $50,446 | $45,393 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $59,780 | $47,800 | $44,811 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $61,190 | $46,822 | $44,414 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $54,890 | $44,228 | $43,293 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,210 | $45,922 | $40,437 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 39 metros →
About the job: substitute teachers, short-term
Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher’s lesson plan.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salaries elsewhere in California
- Bakersfield, CA — $66,480
- San Jose, CA — $72,330
- Stockton, CA — $65,190
- Riverside, CA — $60,780
- Sacramento, CA — $59,780
- Fresno, CA — $54,890
- San Diego, CA — $59,860
- San Francisco, CA — $60,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a substitute teachers, short-term make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median substitute teachers, short-term salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $57,210 a year, or about $27.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,450 and $66,700.
What is a substitute teachers, short-term’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $57,210 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $45,922 a year ($3,827 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,226 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a substitute teachers, short-term?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $41,670. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,437 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #12 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a substitute teachers, short-term afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median substitute teachers, short-term’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $134,590
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary — $114,330
- Special Education Teachers, All Other — $109,600
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $105,640
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $101,860
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $100,960
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $100,900
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $98,370
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $97,680
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $97,510
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $96,970
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary — $91,490