Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a substitute school teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and education, training, and library careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to substitute school teacher jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for substitute school teachers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for substitute school teacher jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for substitute school teachers.We found that the South is best for substitute school teachers, and the West is the worst. Santa Rosa, CA is the best city in the country for substitute school teacher jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for substitute school teachers in 2026
1. Alaska
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $48,875 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
2. Arizona
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 1,221 Average annual salary: $35,971 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
3. Oregon
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 567 Average annual salary: $45,924 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1
4. Idaho
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $38,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
5. Nevada
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 674 Average annual salary: $33,296 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 2.36
6. Montana
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $33,443 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
7. Vermont
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $34,259 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
8. California
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 3,230 Average annual salary: $44,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
9. Minnesota
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 1,194 Average annual salary: $32,075 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
10. Wyoming
Total substitute school teacher jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $31,242 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
Substitute school teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a substitute school teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a substitute school teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $48,875 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 138 |
| 2 | Arizona | $35,971 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,221 |
| 3 | Oregon | $45,924 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 567 |
| 4 | Idaho | $38,134 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 268 |
| 5 | Nevada | $33,296 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 674 |
| 6 | Montana | $33,443 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 268 |
| 7 | Vermont | $34,259 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 136 |
| 8 | California | $44,756 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,230 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $32,075 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,194 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $31,242 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 113 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $29,963 | $20,000 | 1,342,795 | 428 |
| 12 | Washington | $38,608 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 767 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $47,721 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 67 |
| 14 | Iowa | $32,447 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 408 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $29,207 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 365 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $32,882 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 558 |
| 17 | New York | $31,994 | $21,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,953 |
| 18 | Michigan | $29,103 | $20,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,371 |
| 19 | Illinois | $28,847 | $20,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,513 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $31,691 | $23,000 | 755,393 | 78 |
| 21 | Utah | $31,791 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 267 |
| 22 | Kansas | $28,133 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 456 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $28,420 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 300 |
| 24 | Colorado | $28,035 | $20,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,103 |
| 25 | Maryland | $27,622 | $19,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,190 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $28,942 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 92 |
| 27 | Texas | $28,281 | $18,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,499 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $26,190 | $17,000 | 3,588,184 | 877 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $29,239 | $19,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,027 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $26,686 | $17,000 | 1,059,639 | 185 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $27,062 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 392 |
| 32 | Alabama | $27,646 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 310 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $26,008 | $17,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,558 |
| 34 | Missouri | $26,282 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 785 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $25,062 | $16,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,625 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $26,974 | $19,000 | 869,666 | 85 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $26,840 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 247 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $24,851 | $17,000 | 3,930,864 | 454 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $28,142 | $19,000 | 693,972 | 184 |
| 40 | Virginia | $27,463 | $18,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,035 |
| 41 | Maine | $24,994 | $17,000 | 1,335,907 | 167 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $25,710 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 219 |
| 43 | Ohio | $25,189 | $17,000 | 11,658,609 | 994 |
| 44 | Indiana | $23,632 | $16,000 | 6,666,818 | 823 |
| 45 | Delaware | $22,880 | $15,000 | 961,939 | 220 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $23,477 | $16,000 | 6,715,984 | 600 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $22,047 | $15,000 | 5,024,369 | 595 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $22,804 | $15,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,186 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $23,699 | $16,000 | 4,454,189 | 297 |
| 50 | Florida | $22,687 | $15,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,889 |
| 51 | Georgia | $22,225 | $15,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,030 |
Highest paying states for substitute school teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Substitute School Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $48,875 |
| 2 | Arizona | $35,971 |
| 3 | Oregon | $45,924 |
| 4 | Idaho | $38,134 |
| 5 | Nevada | $33,296 |
| 6 | Montana | $33,443 |
| 7 | Vermont | $34,259 |
| 8 | California | $44,756 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $32,075 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $31,242 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $29,963 |
| 12 | Washington | $38,608 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $47,721 |
| 14 | Iowa | $32,447 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $29,207 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $32,882 |
| 17 | New York | $31,994 |
| 18 | Michigan | $29,103 |
| 19 | Illinois | $28,847 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $31,691 |
| 21 | Utah | $31,791 |
| 22 | Kansas | $28,133 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $28,420 |
| 24 | Colorado | $28,035 |
| 25 | Maryland | $27,622 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $28,942 |
| 27 | Texas | $28,281 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $26,190 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $29,239 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $26,686 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $27,062 |
| 32 | Alabama | $27,646 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $26,008 |
| 34 | Missouri | $26,282 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $25,062 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $26,974 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $26,840 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $24,851 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $28,142 |
| 40 | Virginia | $27,463 |
| 41 | Maine | $24,994 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $25,710 |
| 43 | Ohio | $25,189 |
| 44 | Indiana | $23,632 |
| 45 | Delaware | $22,880 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $23,477 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $22,047 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $22,804 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $23,699 |
| 50 | Florida | $22,687 |
| 51 | Georgia | $22,225 |
Expert opinions on the best states for substitute school teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for substitute school teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.
Substitute school teacher best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for substitute school teacher jobs
Updated January 8, 2025