Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a substitute school teacher and how to become one
A substitute school teacher fills in for a regular teacher when they are absent. They deliver lesson plans, maintain classroom management, and ensure student safety. Substitute teachers use communication and organizational skills to manage a variety of classroom environments and grade levels. They also adapt quickly to new teaching styles, curriculum, and school policies. Substitute teachers work on a day-to-day basis to help ensure the continuity of education for students.
What general advice would you give to a substitute school teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $33,215
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%
Asian 7.94%
Black or African American 11.57%
Hispanic or Latino 15.70%
Unknown 5.84%
White 58.46%
Genderfemale 67.68%
male 32.32%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a substitute school teacher?
Pros
Often paid higher than other entry-level positions
Possibility of being offered a full-time teaching position
Ability to choose which assignments to accept
Variety of teaching environments (public, private, charter)
Opportunity to learn from experienced teachers
Cons
Inconsistent work schedule
Limited or no benefits (health insurance, retirement)
Reliance on school district's availability of work
Lack of job security
Possible lack of support from administration or regular teachers
Substitute school teacher career paths
Key steps to become a substitute school teacher
Explore substitute school teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific substitute school teacher skills
Skills Percentages Classroom Management 17.55% Student Learning 13.67% Classroom Environment 11.69% Substitute Teaching 9.32% After-School Program 9.16% Research substitute school teacher duties and responsibilities
- Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
- Substitute for Pre-K and elementary classes.
- Follow IEP and teacher's lesson plans.
- Participate in student SST and IEP meetings.
Prepare your substitute school teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your substitute school teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a substitute school teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable substitute school teacher resume templates
Build a professional substitute school teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your substitute school teacher resume.
Apply for substitute school teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a substitute school teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first substitute school teacher job
Are you a substitute school teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average substitute school teacher salary
The average substitute school teacher salary in the United States is $33,215 per year or $16 per hour. Substitute school teacher salaries range between $23,000 and $47,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do substitute school teachers rate their job?
Substitute school teacher reviews
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
I would like to work. I do not like not working. I love being around people and still have a lot to offer.
Some students' non-challant attitude towards learning.
Ability to share knowledge and guide students in learning new things.
Updated January 8, 2025
