Substitute Teacher Salary By State: Highest-Paid Substitute Teachers by State [2026]
Research Summary. Extensive research by the Zippia data science team has revealed key details regarding substitute teacher salaries by state in the United States:
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Alaska offers the highest substitute teacher salary at $39,750
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South Carolina has the lowest substitute teacher salary at $21,742
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The national average salary for substitute teachers stands at $32,904
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The national hourly rate for substitute teachers is $15.82
For further details, check our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the most critical factor in job satisfaction, with many individuals asking: how much do substitute teachers earn in my state?
Understanding the average salaries for substitute teachers by state can provide valuable insights into what you might expect to earn, even as local variations may apply. These averages reflect data across various seniority levels and trends in hiring practices, especially as the education sector adapts to ongoing changes in technology and work environments.
As of 2026, Alaska leads the way with the best average salary for substitute teachers.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for substitute teacher salaries:
Now, let’s delve deeper into the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Substitute Teachers By State
| Rank | State | Average Substitute Teacher Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $39,750 | $29,000 | $53,000 |
| 2 | California | $38,660 | $26,000 | $56,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $38,025 | $25,000 | $56,000 |
| 4 | Oregon | $37,742 | $25,000 | $56,000 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $35,004 | $24,000 | $50,000 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $33,312 | $27,000 | $39,000 |
| 7 | Arizona | $33,237 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| 8 | Nevada | $31,047 | $21,000 | $45,000 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $30,732 | $21,000 | $43,000 |
| 10 | Alabama | $30,559 | $21,000 | $43,000 |
| 11 | Vermont | $30,200 | $21,000 | $43,000 |
| 12 | Iowa | $30,148 | $21,000 | $42,000 |
| 13 | Michigan | $30,022 | $21,000 | $42,000 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $29,843 | $20,000 | $42,000 |
| 15 | New York | $29,641 | $20,000 | $42,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $29,459 | $20,000 | $41,000 |
| 17 | Utah | $29,252 | $20,000 | $42,000 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $29,209 | $20,000 | $41,000 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $29,057 | $20,000 | $41,000 |
| 20 | Maine | $28,985 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 21 | Kansas | $28,828 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $28,817 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $28,598 | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 24 | Montana | $27,883 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $27,158 | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $27,108 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $27,045 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $26,901 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 29 | Illinois | $26,722 | $18,000 | $37,000 |
| 30 | Virginia | $26,264 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 31 | Texas | $26,175 | $18,000 | $37,000 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $25,802 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $25,769 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $25,742 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $25,690 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $25,309 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 37 | Missouri | $24,960 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $24,792 | $17,000 | $35,000 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $24,573 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $24,240 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 41 | Ohio | $24,050 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 42 | Delaware | $23,925 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 43 | Maryland | $23,734 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $23,362 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 45 | Indiana | $23,023 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 46 | Florida | $23,018 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $22,677 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $22,585 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 49 | Georgia | $22,084 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $21,742 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
Methodology: Substitute Teacher Salary By State
To analyze substitute teacher pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from various authoritative sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is supplemented by actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to determine the average pay for substitute teachers by state.
We ranked every state based on the average annual salary estimates for substitute teachers, with the highest salary being recognized as the leading state.
Substitute Teacher Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for substitute teachers?
The highest-paid state for substitute teachers is Alaska, with an average salary of $39,750 per year.
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What city pays substitute teachers the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest average salary for substitute teachers, at $39,574 per year.
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What is the worst state for substitute teachers?
The state with the lowest average salary for substitute teachers is South Carolina, at $21,742 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
