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Substitute teacher salary
Average substitute teacher salary
$15.82
Understanding the Salary Landscape for Substitute Teachers
The average salary for a substitute teacher in the United States is approximately $32,904 per year or $16 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific school district.
Where Can Substitute Teachers Earn More?
Substitute teachers in states like California and New York often receive higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for educators. For example:
- California: Approximately $40,000 annually
- New York: Approximately $38,000 annually
Additionally, positions in specialized fields or those requiring specific certifications tend to offer higher compensation. Understanding these factors can assist job seekers in making informed decisions about their career paths in education.
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Where can a Substitute Teacher earn more?
Substitute teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average substitute teacher salary by state
The average substitute teacher salary in Alaska, California, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average substitute teacher salary states are Indiana, Florida, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for substitute teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $33,237 | $15.98 |
| 2 | Nevada | $31,047 | $14.93 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $30,732 | $14.78 |
| 4 | Michigan | $30,022 | $14.43 |
| 5 | Alaska | $39,750 | $19.11 |
| 6 | California | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| 7 | Vermont | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| 8 | Oregon | $37,742 | $18.15 |
| 9 | Washington | $38,025 | $18.28 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $28,598 | $13.75 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $29,843 | $14.35 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $35,004 | $16.83 |
| 13 | Iowa | $30,148 | $14.49 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $29,209 | $14.04 |
| 15 | Colorado | $29,459 | $14.16 |
| 16 | Kansas | $28,828 | $13.86 |
| 17 | Idaho | $28,817 | $13.85 |
| 18 | Montana | $27,883 | $13.41 |
| 19 | Alabama | $30,559 | $14.69 |
| 20 | New York | $29,641 | $14.25 |
| 21 | Maine | $28,985 | $13.94 |
| 22 | Utah | $29,252 | $14.06 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $29,057 | $13.97 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $27,045 | $13.00 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $27,108 | $13.03 |
| 26 | Illinois | $26,722 | $12.85 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $25,742 | $12.38 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $33,312 | $16.02 |
| 29 | Texas | $26,175 | $12.58 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $27,158 | $13.06 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $25,769 | $12.39 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $24,792 | $11.92 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $25,690 | $12.35 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $26,901 | $12.93 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $24,240 | $11.65 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $25,802 | $12.40 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $25,309 | $12.17 |
| 38 | Virginia | $26,264 | $12.63 |
| 39 | Delaware | $23,925 | $11.50 |
| 40 | Missouri | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $24,573 | $11.81 |
| 42 | Maryland | $23,734 | $11.41 |
| 43 | Ohio | $24,050 | $11.56 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $24,571 | $11.81 |
| 45 | Indiana | $23,023 | $11.07 |
| 46 | Florida | $23,018 | $11.07 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $22,585 | $10.86 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $23,362 | $11.23 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $21,742 | $10.45 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $22,677 | $10.90 |
| 51 | Georgia | $22,084 | $10.62 |
Highest paying cities for substitute teachers
The highest-paying cities for substitute teachers are San Francisco, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $39,574 | $19.03 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,290 | $16.00 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,975 | $14.89 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $29,973 | $14.41 |
| 5 | Pueblo, CO | $29,508 | $14.19 |
| 6 | Omaha, NE | $29,053 | $13.97 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $27,251 | $13.10 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $26,971 | $12.97 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $26,761 | $12.87 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $26,591 | $12.78 |
| 11 | Wentzville, MO | $24,774 | $11.91 |
| 12 | Washington, DC | $24,584 | $11.82 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $23,817 | $11.45 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $22,902 | $11.01 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $22,885 | $11.00 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $22,199 | $10.67 |
Substitute Teachers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Substitute teacher salary details
A substitute teacher's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a substitute teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $32,904 | $2,742 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying substitute teacher jobs
The highest paying types of substitute teachers are student teacher, summer school teacher, and esl teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Internship | $48,398 | $4,033 | $23.27 | 105,496 |
| Teacher/Tutor | $42,955 | $3,580 | $20.65 | 68,441 |
| Teacher Aide | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 106,207 |
| Preschool Teacher | $33,582 | $2,798 | $16.14 | 55,298 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
Which companies pay substitute teachers the most?
Substitute teacher salaries at Ethical Culture Fieldston School and Columbia University in the City of New York are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average substitute teacher salary at companies like Contra Costa College and Columbia International University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ethical Culture Fieldston School | $64,405 | $30.96 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $55,498 | $26.68 |
| 3 | Contra Costa College | $55,181 | $26.53 |
| 4 | Columbia International University | $55,122 | $26.50 |
| 5 | Friends School of Baltimore | $53,003 | $25.48 |
| 6 | Boston Public Schools | $52,767 | $25.37 |
| 7 | Forsyth Country Day School | $52,378 | $25.18 |
| 8 | Holton-Arms School | $52,328 | $25.16 |
| 9 | Gompers Preparatory Academy | $51,529 | $24.77 |
| 10 | The Nueva School | $51,122 | $24.58 |
| 11 | Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School | $50,240 | $24.15 |
| 12 | University of California | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| 13 | UC Santa Barbara | $48,272 | $23.21 |
| 14 | Siemens | $47,305 | $22.74 |
| 15 | The Chicago High School for the Arts | $46,952 | $22.57 |
| 16 | Idyllwild Arts | $46,611 | $22.41 |
| 17 | IDEA Public Schools | $46,136 | $22.18 |
| 18 | Rowland Unified School District | $45,657 | $21.95 |
| 19 | New York State Restaurant Association | $45,285 | $21.77 |
| 20 | Madera High School | $44,869 | $21.57 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Substitute teacher salary trends
The average substitute teacher salary has risen by $3,539 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average substitute teacher earned $29,365 annually, but today, they earn $32,904 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for substitute teachers over the last decade.
Compare substitute teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average substitute teacher salary over time
Compare substitute teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Substitute teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,900 | $15.82 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $32,100 | $15.43 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $32,000 | $15.39 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $31,400 | $15.12 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $30,900 | $14.86 | +3.6% |
Recently added substitute teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport School District | Teacher-Roaming Substitute | Newport, WA | 06/30/2025 | $35,000 |
| Children's Paradise Inc. | Substitute Teacher-Preschool/Infant Center | Vista, CA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Educate Kansas | Substitute Teacher | McPherson, KS | 06/29/2025 | $32,766 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | Substitute Teacher, Early Childhood Learning Center | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $38,276 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Substitute Teacher-Remote | WFH | Merced, CA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife, Full Time In Quincy, California | Substitute Teacher | Quincy, CA | 06/29/2025 | $40,237 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Substitute Teacher-Remote | WFH | Hanover, OH | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Substitute Teacher-Remote | WFH | Weston, MA | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Rite of Passage Brand | Substitute Teacher | Bryant, AR | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Nevada School District | Substitute Teachers | Bode, IA | 06/28/2025 | $36,523 |
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