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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earn a median $41,670 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

U.S. median
$41,670
$20.03 per hour
Range
$28,560 – $65,790
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
524,770
across the U.S.
▲8.3%
Pay trend: The median for substitute teachers, short-term in the U.S. rose from $38,470 (May 2024) to $41,670 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 5.9%.

What substitute teachers, short-term do

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)
Openings per year
65,000
Self-employed
5%

Employment of substitute teachers, short-term is projected to grow 2.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 65,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$35,662
per year · effective tax rate 14.4%
$2,972Monthly
$1,486Twice a month
$1,372Every 2 weeks
$17.15Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,820
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,584
  • Medicare (1.45%)$604
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$35,662

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$28,560$13.73$25,128
25th percentile$34,170$16.43$29,636
Median (50th)$41,670$20.03$35,662
75th percentile$54,890$26.39$46,284
90th percentile (top earners)$65,790$31.63$55,042

Best cities for substitute teachers, short-term (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Bakersfield, CA$66,480$52,626$52,1645,390
2San Jose, CA$72,330$56,200$50,8953,800
3Stockton, CA$65,190$51,710$49,2063,060
4Riverside, CA$60,780$48,530$45,59315,430
5Seattle, WA$60,070$50,446$45,3937,220
6Sacramento, CA$59,780$47,800$44,8116,510
7Portland, OR$61,190$46,822$44,4144,110
8Fresno, CA$54,890$44,228$43,2938,670
9San Diego, CA$59,860$47,858$42,7749,480
10San Francisco, CA$60,790$48,538$41,98310,570
11Urban Honolulu, HI$58,520$46,283$41,7112,900
12Los Angeles, CA$57,210$45,922$40,43735,740
13Miami, FL$54,050$45,609$39,9547,940
14Minneapolis, MN$50,390$40,765$38,8907,510
15Virginia Beach, VA$45,800$37,161$37,9422,750
16Providence, RI$45,510$37,658$37,0012,780
17Philadelphia, PA$45,680$37,482$36,54811,210
18Kansas City, MO$40,440$33,710$36,4275,000
19Buffalo, NY$42,740$34,811$36,3203,380
20Rochester, NY$42,280$34,466$35,5193,130
21Washington, DC$46,470$37,896$34,80415,060
22Salt Lake City, UT$41,620$34,715$34,4162,420
23Columbus, OH$37,940$32,404$33,9423,390
24Chicago, IL$43,460$35,094$33,87611,110
25Phoenix, AZ$41,590$34,767$33,6513,220

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Alaska $66,920+58.1%$55,908 $38,250 – $132,5301,420
California $60,300+5.3%$48,180 $39,040 – $78,670115,660
Hawaii $58,530+16.9%$46,291 $45,690 – $60,6203,990
Oregon $58,280+4.9%$44,738 $54,870 – $74,2908,090
Washington $55,740+1.6%$46,967 $45,790 – $67,70014,820
Minnesota $50,390+3.4%$40,765 $37,750 – $75,8908,660
District of Columbia $49,790+3.9%$40,365 $46,450 – $51,090750
West Virginia $49,020+2.9%$40,090 $41,440 – $75,2904,840
Maryland $46,470+17.7%$37,675 $32,870 – $47,3607,610
Rhode Island $45,590+2.0%$37,719 $36,410 – $60,6401,910
Pennsylvania $44,870+7.9%$36,856 $30,470 – $63,93022,360
Wisconsin $43,950+8.5%$36,341 $35,740 – $59,8908,420
New Jersey $43,780+17.1%$36,486 $34,170 – $58,67017,100
New York $43,490+10.1%$35,373 $35,090 – $60,01036,090
North Dakota $42,570+6.2%$36,385 $33,780 – $55,080420
Massachusetts $41,350+7.6%$33,557 $33,590 – $58,9308,410
Michigan $39,500+13.6%$32,490 $29,720 – $61,3703,600
Illinois $39,410+2.8%$32,040 $31,200 – $58,04017,220
Virginia $39,020+3.7%$32,103 $27,670 – $53,54024,350
Georgia $38,870+2.7%$32,017 $20,800 – $45,90016,400
Arizona $38,500+6.0%$32,361 $31,170 – $50,2904,710
Connecticut $38,460−0.3%$32,277 $35,050 – $63,9805,950
Vermont $38,200+2.5%$32,028 $31,470 – $54,1201,400
Nebraska $37,690−13.6%$31,629 $28,080 – $61,4503,430
Maine $37,440+10.6%$30,883 $31,110 – $49,590—
Iowa $37,230+1.0%$31,331 $30,980 – $47,7707,300
Ohio $37,150+3.5%$31,791 $28,480 – $47,4709,140
Florida $37,080+1.9%$31,974 $30,300 – $60,52025,270
Wyoming $36,990+2.2%$31,901 $30,600 – $45,5902,230
Delaware $36,510+1.4%$30,166 $31,200 – $50,590—
Utah $36,490+10.2%$30,824 $24,710 – $53,7804,710
New Mexico $36,400−1.9%$30,830 $30,170 – $43,9603,510
Indiana $36,360−1.3%$30,352 $28,540 – $56,3309,920
Kansas $36,190+11.5%$30,039 $28,980 – $44,9009,360
New Hampshire $34,990+2.1%$30,294 $28,870 – $46,4901,070
Missouri $34,790+5.8%$29,436 $29,220 – $49,85011,480
Idaho $34,080+3.8%$28,865 $29,110 – $45,2401,800
North Carolina $33,780+4.2%$28,483 $28,390 – $45,04020,360
Texas $32,040+8.2%$27,924 $22,870 – $39,09029,150
South Carolina $30,400−8.7%$25,940 $22,460 – $78,6907,700
Kentucky $29,730+2.2%$25,145 $24,120 – $64,680320
Tennessee $29,500+12.4%$25,883 $21,570 – $35,9707,690
Arkansas $29,230+2.6%$24,739 $24,440 – $36,0402,560
Montana $28,050−1.3%$24,148 $22,930 – $38,2302,370
South Dakota $27,840+3.6%$24,536 $25,560 – $34,7001,610
Louisiana $27,370−3.8%$23,714 $20,730 – $44,3501,090
Alabama $25,340+4.2%$21,475 $18,170 – $30,0209,290
Nevada $24,960+17.1%$22,165 $24,960 – $40,6206,600
Oklahoma $23,770+5.9%$20,660 $18,300 – $42,5504,990
Mississippi $22,340+5.8%$19,845 $16,430 – $33,3202,390

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Tutor$43,350Some college, no degree-0.2%
Self-Enrichment Teacher$46,800High school diploma or equivalent+3.5%
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,540Bachelor's degree-13.9%
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,140Bachelor's degree-0.2%
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$42,910Bachelor's degree+2.7%
Library Technician$44,580Postsecondary nondegree award-6.4%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140Associate's degree+4.5%
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780Some college, no degree-0.3%
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$50,890Bachelor's degree+1.8%
Museum Technician and Conservator$51,440Bachelor's degree+3.6%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a substitute teachers, short-term make?

The national median salary for substitute teachers, short-term is $41,670 a year ($20.03 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,560 and the top 10% earn over $65,790. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays substitute teachers, short-term the most?

Alaska has the highest median pay at $66,920. After taxes and local prices, Bakersfield, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many substitute teachers, short-term are there in the U.S.?

About 524,770 people work as substitute teachers, short-term nationwide.

All 39 cities